A close relative of mine is receiving private care in his own home. His daughter, Z, left a meal she had cooked in the fridge, for both of them to eat when she came to visit him after work. The meal had gone when she got in, and he said that he had given it to his carer. Z then looked further, and a lot of the food in the freezer had gone as well (we are talking joints of meat, steak, lobster - not value fish fingers). My relative said he had given this to his carer too. Z called the woman, who confirmed that this was the case. Z is very upset about this, and does not think that the carer should be allowed to accept gifts from someone she is caring for, who has Alzheimers. OK, it is only food, but what if he has gifted her anything else, like the family jewels? Z said to me that she would like to complain, but then again, thinks "oh it's only food" and the care organisation might think she is causing a fuss unnecessarily, particularly as the family aren't short of cash. I think the carer is on dodgy ground, making herself vulnerable - what if my relative gives her something, then forgets, and accuses her of stealing it?