My mom has advanced dementia and is moving into assisted living in 2 weeks - they said she didn’t need memory care. I’m giving it time (a week or two) before they advance her care level. She currently has a cell phone but doesn’t use it much other than obsessively looking at something (but uses zero data in a month). I’m honestly concerned she will lose the phone or dial 911 to report the place for stealing her stuff (she has done that to me). Take the phone? Turn off cell and leave it with her? What is the protocol here?
Any phone that is charged, active or not can be used to dial 911. So inactivating the phone if it is charged she may well call 911.
If you can take the phone without causing undue distress that might be best. Or have the staff help her “lose” the phone. Probably not a difficult thing to do in a facility setting😉.
If she doesn't really use it, don't take it with her. See what happens, out of sight out of mind.
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