MIL going to LTC after rehab. We will be doing her laundry. A friend told me to only leave 3 outfits and one pair of sneakers?

At the skilled nursing rehab where mom is they provide large bibs for eating. This helps a lot with spills. Trust me, my mom spills constantly because of her tremors due to Parkinson’s disease so I appreciate the bibs. They use large towels that are made into bibs. Helps to cut down on soiled clothing.

Mark their name on them because sometimes (alot) they get put in LTC laundry. It will be a few days before it returns.

She may need several changes of clothing, depending on how clean she is when she eats, whether there is incontinence, etc. Choose clothes that are easy to wash and easy to get in and out of (small buttons can be difficult, for example) and shoes that are easy to slip on that will stay on her feet. I found that knit pants with elastic waist work best for my Mom. Cotton sweaters that can be put in the washer and dryer are also good.

I sent about 6 outfits for my mom for a week. Also extra undergarments, 7 pairs of socks (some with the no skid pads), a pair of easily slipped on shoes that we had to put her name on the outside, a brush, comb, denture holder and and cleaners for a week. We had a small hamper in her room and there was a sign above it saying family will do laundry. It didn't seem to matter. Her stuff disappeared constantly and I would see it on other clients. Her glasses were taken, brush, comb, denture holder, undergarments, personal blanket throw, etc. We had to constantly replace items. When she passed away, I left all her garments we could find to the home for others. Even lotions and lip balms disappeared. She had a TV with a remote, a chair, small table that held a mini fridge, clock, flowers and photos. I took an etching pen and put her name on every item and we never did find her remote to the tv.
One very important thing, don't leave wire hangers. I bought the thick plastic and put her name on tape that I put around the hangers. I saw the employees get clothes out of the closets and they yanked them off. Wire hangers tore the items and became weapons for some of the memory loss clients.

I would leave a minimum # of outfits - say 6 to 8. Think of an elder as being not very active UNLESS you expect YOUR LO to be up and around more. Then the number may have to change.

The most important thing to do is post large signs in multiple spots that ‘The family is doing her laundry and to put all dirty clothes in xxx( name a specific spot).’ Make sure this is not the spot they would put the laundry if the rehab facility was doing it. And make sure it is posted in more than one spot.

3 outfits? No. Need plenty of pants without zippers, 5-6 tops minimum, some cardigan sweaters or light jacket things with pockets because elders are often cold.
I love to shop at an upscale consignment store where quality tops are had for $5 each and Mom is thrilled to have some new items now and then. I shop there for myself as well. PJ or night gown. Mom often sleeps in her clothes, so it's probably a matter of getting her into the bed because she is tired and clean clothes can be put on in the morning. Fine with me.

We started having enough for 2 weeks and once Mom went thru 1 week’s worth in 1 day! Mom’s favorite pants were pants that ended up in her basket that was someone else’s. She was so proud of those sparkly pants!

i know this doesn’t answer your question, but it did remind me of this fond memory. :)

Depends how often you will be going in. If every day (bad idea as enables LO to not get involved with others because they base their lives round you still - plus you get no rest) then I am sure you friend's level of clothing is more than sufficient depending on incontinence leakage etc. But if you only go once a week then I think you would need to look at at least three times that if you are doing all laundry. If it turns out to be too much you can always cut it down and bring it back with you.

How often will you be there?
If you leave only 3 outfits and she spills juice in the morning and has a leaking brief in the afternoon that leaves 1 outfit for the next day. And if something happens to that....
Bring the 3 outfits you want but do not bring anything that is real "nice" it will get misplaced.
I will tell you pant waist bands will get stretched out. I can not tell you the number of times that I saw aids using the pants waist band to help transfer someone from the bed to a wheelchair.
Polar fleece is good, very forgiving and washes and dries fast.
Think of the clothing like the Children's clothing Garanimals it was designed so that most the tops went with most the bottoms or at least they were coded so it was easy to find an outfit.. So don't get pants that will only go with a particular top.
Pull up type pants, no buttons or zippers and blouses that are easy to get on and off V-neck are easier to get on and off than a crew neck or turtleneck.
If you are handy with a sewing machine put Velcro under the buttons so it is easy to fasten rather than button the top. or check out Dawn Wells (Gilligans Island actress) designed a line of clothing that is easy to put on, I think I read her mom had Alzheimer's..oops...just read this line has been discontinued.

One weeks worth.
Don’t take the favorites or nice clothing because it will go missing or get beat up in the washer.

My mom had bought some monogrammed peach towels (her initials with teal lettering) years prior. I took them to the Memory Care facility-what a mistake! They were in perfect condition. The aides used big black permanent marker directly on the front of the towels (not on the tag) to write her name! Within 6 months they were bleached and shredded-from their washer-unrecognizable from their original condition !!

Again, don’t take any clothing you value there. Also, they mixed up other peoples clothes with hers.

We took a lot of clothes there (all her clothing, 2 bags full) and I could only fit one bag’s worth in the closet. Mom always bought expensive clothes with high end labels. They “stored” the other bag in an empty room. When she left that facility they couldn’t “find” the other bag. They gave me a bag of clothes some lady who died had worn.

How often will you be there?
If you leave only 3 outfits and she spills juice in the morning and has a leaking brief in the afternoon that leaves 1 outfit for the next day. And if something happens to that....
Bring the 3 outfits you want but do not bring anything that is real "nice" it will get misplaced.
I will tell you pant waist bands will get stretched out. I can not tell you the number of times that I saw aids using the pants waist band to help transfer someone from the bed to a wheelchair.
Polar fleece is good, very forgiving and washes and dries fast.
Think of the clothing like the Children's clothing Garanimals it was designed so that most the tops went with most the bottoms or at least they were coded so it was easy to find an outfit.. So don't get pants that will only go with a particular top.
Pull up type pants, no buttons or zippers and blouses that are easy to get on and off V-neck are easier to get on and off than a crew neck or turtleneck.
If you are handy with a sewing machine put Velcro under the buttons so it is easy to fasten rather than button the top. or check out Dawn Wells (Gilligans Island actress) designed a line of clothing that is easy to put on, I think I read her mom had Alzheimer's..

I would always take and leave at least one week's worth of outfits (with at least 2-3 extra pairs of pants because my mom had issues for a while with accidents) for the 6 weeks my mom was in a NH/rehab. She would get picky with what she wanted to wear too so I would have to account for that. Lol
I didn't take anything really good though- just clothes that she would putter around the house in. She had one pair of shoes there because at first she would just wear booties. I didn't put labels or her initials on her clothes because the staff knew I was doing her laundry and not to bother it. Where she was at the staff or residents didn't bother her belongings which was great. I'm sure it helped that I visited every day and kept an eye on things to include collecting her dirty laundry.

I suggest taking the oldest clothes to a nursing home. My Mom had some new fleece jackets as she was always cold, they disappeared. They even took her comforter. Everything was labeled, but they were never found again .

The facility my mom (& mother in law were in) recommended 7 of each item. If they need extra changing for some reason one day or something comes up & you absolutely can’t make it one day, they will be wearing a hospital gown until more clothes arrive. Maybe pack a few extra things that aren’t “too nice” so I’d they get lost it’s not a big deal.

Thanks everyone!! She will be staying there. I think I will start with 4 as suggested, then reevaluate in a month or so. We expect most weeks to visit 3 -4 times a week. We have been visiting everyday in rehab, but we are going to visit less so maybe she will socialize a bit more.

It depends on how often you will be visiting and whether or not she usually needs changing during the day. It also depends on the facility - whether she shares a room or other residents are apt to "shop" through her wardrobe.

The last time Luz was in rehab I had four sets for her and washed clothes daily. I did have more tops than bottoms since she would sleep in her under wear. The first time she was in rehab it took all day to find her clothes the facility washed and return the ones that were delivered to her.
I vote to have plenty available but no more than four sets in the room until you see what the place is really like.

Will she be staying in long term care? If so, why limit her clothes and have to do laundry so often? I brought all of Moms summer clothes and stored her winter ones at my house until it was time to swap them out. Probably 10 pairs of slacks, at least 20 tops, some cardigans and sweatshirts, camisoles, nightgowns, bathrobe and knee socks.