Packing to cope with care home laundry

[Frankinsenseless]

DM is going into a care home within days so I’m packing her bags.

I’ve read threads that say the care home laundries wash clothes on a super hot wash. Is this true in your case? I might have to buy DM some more clothes as her wardrobe seems to exist entirely of clothes that say a 30 degree wash. And a cool iron. 🤦‍♀️

TIA

My Aunt’s care home sister said that fleece tops instead of jumpers were a good idea and they always washed well. When my Aunt died I asked the sister if she wanted anything and she asked for the fleeces and toiletries for other residents.

I totally agree. I think expectations need to be reasonable. I think the laundry situation can't be helped.
The frequent loss of clothes/glasses/hearing aids is, I suppose, par for the course too, but I wish it wasn't. It is so expensive to keep replacing those things. If a resident has dementia, being unable to hear or see isn't going to make things easier.
Being dressed in your own clothes and shoes, though, I feel is important . My MIL had been a very smart, well dressed lady all her life. To see her dressed (and ready to be taken out for a family lunch) in an enormous dress, old ankle socks and a massive pair of crocs, on a cold, rainy day was upsetting. Goodness knows where her own, carefully chosen and named, clothes and shoes were.

@porridgecake That's unforgivable. I once found something that wasn't Dad's in his wardrobe, but I've never seen him wearing clothes that weren't his. If they ca't dress someone according to their preferred style, it makes you wonder how much they see them as a person.

Some of my dad's things vanished into the laundry never to be seen again, but he was always dressed in his own clothes. And in reasonable combinations of them.

Easier for men, though, because there’s never as many of them

True, and I can't confirm that all the women there were in their own clothes - but they were certainly always in clothes that fitted, suited them, formed a coherent outfit and were suitable for the weather.

I wouldn't trust anywhere that can't keep the laundry in reasonable order¹ to do an acceptable job with meds or dietary requirements.

¹ I wouldn't expect them to read and scrupulously follow every individual care label, but it's really not that hard to get most of the clothes back to the right people most of the time, and apply a bit of common sense and respect when dressing people.

Housekeeping staff wash everything at 65C in my relative's home. Labelling down to every sock etc essential as everyone says.

Got my dad a ton of stuff from George for this situation. To be fair, since the staff made sure he was showered daily, dressed in clean clothes and regularly shaved as he liked to be, it was a distinct improvement even if the clothes weren't Savile Row. I would turn up without notice and always found him looking decent in a clean polo shirt, jumper and trousers. I left them all with the home after he died.

My granny’s care home is pretty good but definitely label everything and keep a watch on things that matter to her quality of life.
Check for things like glasses, teeth and hearing aids every time you go. We got a bit lax and her hearing aid and her partial dentures have been misplaced. Probably ended up in the bin to be honest.

I agree with this. Occasionally mum is in a top or cardigan I don't recognise but it always fits, is the style of her clothes and forms a nice outfit. I'm happy with that.

My DM keeps making accusations that her clothes are being stolen. Upon investigation I realise that they’re in the wash.

I think you might be pleasantly surprised at how professional some care home laundries are. 🤩.
Most of my patients wear cashmere!!

Get copies of the precious photos you didn't bring. Having things with deep meaning around her will help @Frankinsenseless