Mary,

The big thing with nursing homes is not so much belongings.   They may vanish
by the patient's own forgetfulness.
I was at the nursing home today, and I am just as distressed as can be.  I
guess I am sounding off now.
Just about everybody is on an anti-depressant, and I don't know if you know my
constant harping on my theory of how harmful anti-depressants can be to a
second, third, etc party.
This is something EVERYONE should know, but hardly anyone believes.  And it is
affecting more and more of the population.  But in nursing homes, it is
disastrous.
Ready my layman's theory on the cause of crohns which is only one example of
the results of ADs.   They cause many unrecognized illnesses.
It is on website:
http://ascc.healingwell.com/info/gailfaq.htm
It is a strange and almost unbelievable theory, but years of observation have
shown it to be true.   Of course, in homes where the patients have alzheimers,
it may not be so noticeable, as those people are not so aware as to form close
relationships or friendships that will cause pain to them.
But my friend in the home is fairly young, (45 yrs) and is schizophrenic.  
However, most of her mind reasoning was well.  Her mother could not handle the
illness, so she brought her to me and she lived with me 8 years.  She was a
delight, and I love her dearly.  I had to put her in the nursing home, as she
had a childhood friend of her brothers and he loved her also.  Only problem was
he used marijuana, then cocaine, and he was making both of us ill.  So I
thought a change among people would divert her attention from him.   Everything
was fine in the home a few years, with 2 others in her room (not on ADs).  When
her friend OD on the cocaine, and succumbed at an early age, I felt sad, but I
thought she would never again be bothered by ADs.  I could never guess that the
nursing home was saturated with the anti-depressants.   Well, one woman was
placed in her room recently who is on ADs, and they became friends.   My friend
became so ill and more mentally unstable, and had to be hospitalized.   I
begged the nursing home before and after to change her room to residents not on
ADs.  They finally did, and she is doing better, but all the residents seem to
get so ill right  after coming to the home and many go home because of it.  
And she  was put on Risperdal without a counter med to avoid Tardive
Dyskinesia,  and I cry when I see her.   She never had that problem at my house
or in the first years at the home.
Her mother visits her constantly, for a few minutes each time, but doesn't
understand the conditions.  Actually no one can,
it is such a hard concept to follow.
I don't know if I am making sense to others now, but I am so certain of the
damage of ADs, it has become a battleground everywhere.  Everyone is depressed
and placed on an AD, so the cycle perpetuates further and further.
If I talked to you in person, I could go on and on.   If they would put the
residents on Valium instead, that would do no harm to anyone as it is a true
tranquillizer.
Natural herbs with natural stimulants cause crohns also, as does Xanax, Buspar,
Depakote, Flexeril, kava kava, st johns wort, etc. etc.
They say tranquillizers are addictive, but what does that mean to the person in
a home.  Besides better to be addicted to that than to be on something that
will do damage to others.
This post is for EVERYONE, because many people are experiencing depression or
illnesses that can't be explained.
But back to your MIL, I do hope she is comfortable as can be, I know you care.
The belongings are essential , but I don't know the answer to that.   I just
keep replacing my friends clothes, which is a much minor issue than teeth or
hearing aids, etc.
May I add that one of the nurses came down with crohns, and I try to explain to
them, it is the environment of ADs.
Thanks for taking the time to write, this is so important a subject to me,
because of who it affects and will eventually affect many more, or everyone
will know someone being affected.
The FDA  should deregulate tranquillizers like Valium.   That would be the
answer to many  hardships in the nursing homes, in fact it would be the answer
to a smooth operation in the homes.
Sorry if I over talked, but it is on my mind constantly.
Again the website to read, is
http://ascc.healingwell.com/info/gailfaq.htm
I proclaim this every chance I get
Some people may wish to go on the Alt.crohns-colitis group.   There people
discuss their illnesses and get good support but the better thing is to be
aware of  the destruction of ADs.   Not many people believe the theory, but
pediatric children are affected and therein lies my great concern also, and
usually they will abide by the theory, thus the children can become normal.  
Hopefully I am not putting a hex on this, (a little superstitious).

Thanks for listening
Gail Michael