ALF is taking my Mother's unused pain meds. Any advice?

You have no right to the extra pain pills. The DOH forces them to destroy the pills in front of a witness. Same with Hospice, they will come to the house in an hour, put all the meds in a Ziploc bag, add rubbing alcohol and dissolve them.

I'm glad that the facility was able to ease your and your mom's concerns. Just understand that if your mom has dementia, she may keep going back to this concern. It's called rumination and/or perseveration. You should characterize it that way to her doctors if this concern resurfaces.

Thank you for answering this question and the good advice you provided I talked with the facility director and she agreed to let my mother watch them dispose of her meds that was a concern SHE had and my duty as a caregiver was to help her understand their prices for eliminating unused drugs. Once again thank you

Are they going to hold them or incinerate them?

Is your mother thinking she might go back to these less strong pills some day?

I'm not sure what the benefit would be to your holding them. If she needs them again, won't she just get them again -- either from the supply the facility has held or as a new batch under Medicare?

In other words, what do you care what the facility does with the drugs? Isn't Mom going to be OK no matter what they do?

If they are, in fact, trafficking in excess prescription drugs, that is deplorable and hideous. I hope they get caught. But how is that hurting your mother? They are not withholding her doses when she needs them, right? Sometimes you need to decide which battles are worth fighting. Do you have any other "evidence" that the drugs are winding up on the street, besides your mother's perception that the CNAs are acting "suspicious"? If there is wrong-doing I hope they get caught. IF you have evidence in addition to suspicions then call the ombudsman.

As to your legal rights, and any rules care facilities must follow, I don't know about that for an ALF. I hope someone will be along with information on that aspect of it for you.

In general, it is best to try to establish and maintain a cooperative attitude with the people who care for your mother. Every time to have to "rock the boat" or get argumentative with them it should be truly for something important to your mother's care.

I have both poa and medical my mother told me that she would rather me take her medication and hold them for her because she don't trust the cna workers because according to her they act suspicious with her meds and I believe her. Is this something I should pursue? I live in Louisiana and the neighborhood this facility is located in is a known drug related area she doesn't feel comfortable with them "holding" her meds what are her rights in this assisted living facility re meds that she paid for

When you say "legal caregiver," do you mean you have POA, Medical POA, or guardianship. That might make a difference.

What do you want to do with the leftover drugs?