Door locks for multi-unit memory care?

In my stepmom’s memory unit , they have no keys .That would be a nightmare in the making . It was always heartbreaking to visit her . The body is alive , but the person we love is already gone .

-Coil bracelet key ring.
-Necklace with pendant key.
-Similar to life alert device.

At my MIL facility, they give them a plastic bracelet with their key on it. She wears it most of the time, but especially when she leaves her unit and goes to meals and activities.

sister's AL place had door lock/key. I tried many times to show her. She kept loosing the key, could not remember how to turn to lock/unlock same with mailbox key. I got a copy when I am there I check the mailbox-mostly junk as I have her mail sent to my house. People did not seem to wander into other people's room.....But the next place people did wander, doors unlocked, would not give a lock even after repeated roaming residents came into her room, took her stuff. Angry roaming resident argued with me when I try to explain this is not his room. Other frequent flyer always says sorry-this used to be her room.....Now missing $1,000 worth of clothes they labeled and inventoried....I asked several times over several months to please look for her stuff. moving out now- told me I signed a form way back when saying I would not hold them responsible for missing stuff.....which now explains why they never even tried to find the belongings.

Giving keys to memory care residents? No way! Not a one of them would be able to handle a key or a smartphone. They wouldn't be there if they were that competent.

At moms facility, they have "alert buttons" that are either worn on the wrist or on a string around the neck.  Mom's keys are attached to that and like others have mentioned, you have to use a key to lock the door.  That doesn't mean she won't lock her door, walk to the dining room and lose her keys, but having them on a bracelet or necklace helps lessen the chance.  My mom is at the point now where she walks out of her apartment and forgets to lock the door.  Do not put anything in your moms apartment of value.  My mom hides things and then can't find them and other residents walk into the apartments and think they are in their own and take things.  My mother has actually walked into another residents apartment, crawled into their bed and took a nap.  She didn't even realize it wasn't her place.  There is theft...some of it intentional, some of it not...so any jewelry of value or documents are better kept at your place.  I wouldn't sweat too much over the keys...it is a common problem there.

Don’t worry about it. Patients are given a key to their room so they don’t endlessly worry about having keys. (It’s a rite of passage for us, you are now old enough to have a key to the home). Staff have a master key to let them in.
The doors don’t lock without the key.
My Mum was getting quite upset until her key was finally cut and given to her but she loses it every day or two. It’s found in her pocket, top drawer or laundry most often. Trained Staff know they are dealing with dementia patients, this is not a difficult care situation.

I am night manager at an seniors independent living building with 84 units. Our doors don’t lock unless you use your key. Eliminates lock outs. We only once had someone lose her keys and needed to be let into building and apartment. I agree with others here that this is for staff to deal with. Residents here wear the building door pass and apartment keys on a long cord around their necks usually. Hope staff is kind to those who get locked out or misplace keys.🙏🙏🙏

My mother lives in Memory Care; her door remains locked at ALL times so the other residents don't go in there, etc. She asks a staff member to let her into her room if she forgets her key which is on a coil bracelet she wears on her wrist. The solution doesn't lie with the residents, but with the staff.

I am surprised that they have doors with locks.
Just the fact of loosing keys has to be a nightmare for staff.
When I was caring for my Husband, he had a tendency to leave the house...I put locks on that were key lock on the inside as well as out. I wore the keys around my neck. I NEVER took them off. That might be an option a pretty ribbon and put the key on it.
Another option might be a plastic card, like most people use to get into office buildings now. It could have her picture on it. And all she would have to do is get near the sensor to trigger the lock to open.

SonOutOfState, ask the facility what would they suggest. Remember, this isn't their first rodeo :)

I wouldn't make any changes to the lock system, as the Staff needs to be able to get into the apartment. They use a "master key" which is one key that opens all of the apartments.

JoAnn, the coil bracelet is something on my short list of options. My fear with anything that she takes on and off is that she will forget to do it, will misplace it, etc. Also considering a swipe card system on a laynard (same problems) or maybe something that uses fingerprint, although that would potentially be unsafe in terms of staff being unable to enter her room if she needs help. Thanks for your response. If I find a solution, will post it for others.

I keep my LO’s key on MY key chain. She would not be able to use it successfully either.

Surprised this is done in a memory care unit. My Aunt had her key on one of those coil plastic bracelets.