Can I limit who visits my mother while she is in a nursing home?

The only question I have is: Is this a drama person that always stirs mom up and gets her agitated? Otherwise, try letting her visit and see how it goes. I disagree with some of these other commenters. They don't know your family, only you do.
I agree with them that she needs visitation. Judge what is needed by how it affects your mother.
We kept one person away from my dad because she would get him agitated and upset. But then, he had plenty of visitors. You are POA, and you can limit if I'm correct. Having said all that, would it cause drama for you to keep the cousin away? You have to decide how it affects Mom.
Some are right, though, if you only have medical POA. Can you try to get a general POA to cover more? I did, because, remember, dementia doesn't get better, it progresses.

buckeyechick: Your query should be posed to the administrators of the facility. While you could state your desires to the administrators, they are the individuals running the facility and as such, it is their protocol.

It depends on what the cousin is likely to do. If the cousin will cause problems, then the cousin should not be allowed to visit.

If the cousin can be agreeable, be vaccinated, wear a mask, and be pleasant and concerned, and be a good visitor that would be acceptable.

with the medical POA, your main concern is for the patient and not for the feelings of the cousin.

As MPoA you can make your guest desires know to the facility administration however even with sign in requirements now in place in most facilities due to covid, be aware that with the continued shortage of staff it may not be possible to always verify visitor identity particularly with a new resident. Also as others have suggested... figure out if this person's visits are going to cause more upset to your Mom than her absence. Only you know your family but we all know how amazingly damaging some family members can be at times. Good Luck!

I suggest having a schedule for visitation, I.e one time per week during a specified timeframe. Otherwise allegations could be made of emotional abuse even if you have POA.

Just curious.... If privacy is needed so badly, how did this cousin know that your mom was placed in MC and which MC she's in?

Buckeye,

What did you finally do? Was the facility able to help block your cousin?

If you are POA for your mother then you decide who the nursing home allows to visit her.
You give them a list of names of who they are not to admit.
Would this cousin visiting be an upsetting experience for your mom? If so then most certainly tell the nursing home not to admit this person.
Or is it you who does not want the cousin coming around? If they're not visiting to cause trouble, why prevent them visiting?
Being in a nursing home is bad enough for a person and they can use all the visitors and company they can get.

Nursing homes may limit your visitors if they pose a threat to the health and safety of the residents of the facility or to the safe operation of the facility.