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My mother is currently living with my sister. She is 76 years old and has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's. My sister has a large breed dog and my mother likes to irritate him (my sister's words). So... They have a lock on the outside of my mother's bedroom door so that she doesn't get attacked. They're to keep my mother safe. Is this legal to do in any state ?

No, not legal. If a mandated reporter came into the house they would report that to APS.

The bigger question is why isn't she in AL? What's the point of cooping her up in her room? It seems cruel. No one would do that to an animal, no less their Mom... so you see where your sister's priorities lie.
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Worried03 Aug 16, 2026
Agreed! My mom has a $3,500 retirement √ every month. Priority # 1 I'm guessing. Sick stuff! The sad thing is I have no family backing because everyone I'm related to is money oriented 😔
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Omg, what a terrible situation for your mother! Locking a human with dementia in a room so a big dog doesn't attack her. I've been here since 2015 and never heard a more cruel story.
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Scampie1 Aug 16, 2026
Neither have I, Lealonnie. There is so much click bait going on different platforms, I thought one had made it here too.

This just seems surreal.
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Your mother with Alzheimer's should not be living in your sister's home with the large dog, and definitely should not be locked in her bedroom!
If sister can't resolve the living arrangements to better accommodate your mother, then please find somewhere else for mom to live! Preferably a memory care assisted living facility. I'm sure neither you nor your sister are equipped to handle your mother's ongoing needs as her disease progresses. It gets much more challenging! It never gets easier. She will need cares and behave in ways that you never imagined, unless you have prior hands-on experience taking care of someone with Alzheimer's.
Please, get her comfortably situated in a nice, safe care home before this gets more dangerous.
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Reply to CaringWifeAZ
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No. It is not acceptable. It is a fire hazard. It also blocks Mom from bathroom access and blocks Mom from getting a snack or drink from the kitchen.
If Mom gets injured it blocks Mom from getting help from others in the home.
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BurntCaregiver Aug 15, 2026
Brandee,

A memory care facility is not going to let a resident get snacks from the kitchen at all hours. Definitely, there should be someone assisting in toileting the mother a few times in the overnight. There's a reason why memory care floros are locked. This is so residents can't wander off. Same thing applies to a private house. You can't allow someone with dementia to get up and wander around when everyone is in bed because they have to be supervised 24/7 like a toddler. A lock on the outside of the bedroom door is a safety measure.
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Oh HELL no!!! That is outright elder abuse and should be reported immediately.
This is WRONG on so many levels and it needs to stop today. Call Adult Protective Services first thing Monday morning and report this abuse. They will come out and if need be take over moms care, meaning they will get her placed in the appropriate facility where mom will be looked after 24/7 and be kept safe in the right ways.
To me this is NO different than keeping a child locked up in a closet all day.
If you truly love your mom you will stop this abuse today.
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BurntCaregiver Aug 15, 2026
The OP does not say that her mother is locked in the bedroom all day and night long. There usually needs to be some kind of lock on the bedroom door when you're dealing with Alzheimer's to prevent the person from wandering or even leaving the house after everyone has gone to bed. This is for safety. Everyone will suggest baby monitors, cameras, or hire overnight caregivers. Here's the reality though. Everyone has to get a night's sleep especially if the family caregiver still has to go to a job every day. Most people can't afford to hire a bodyguard that follows a wandering demented elder all night long to keep them safe. Hence, the lock on the bedroom door.

The mother or the dog should be moved out. That's an disaster waiting to happen.
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Worried, regardless of what anyone here is telling you about this being fine and normal for mom to be locked inside her room to be protected from a big dog, it's illegal. Period. Which says it all, regardless of anyone's opinion or experience. You don't mention whether mom is locked in there all day, part of the day or only at night. But common sense should tell us that Big Dog is around all the time.

Call APS and report the situation. That's the right thing to do. You feel horrible about this situation for a good reason, as anyone with a conscience would and should.

I hope you can get mom placed asap.
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Unlawful imprisonment. Elder abuse. Those are only two of the possible terms that come to mind. This situation needs to end so that mom gets the care she needs. You need to do whatever it takes to get mom out of there.

Your sister could be in big trouble if someone reports this to APS or other authorities. She’ll be in worse trouble if that dog hurts or kills your mother. I can’t believe anyone would think this arrangement is a good idea. Color me flabbergasted.
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Worried03 Aug 16, 2026
My thoughts exactly! The dog has already attacked my mother. This is why she has a lock on the outside of her bedroom door to begin with (is why I'm told at least) but... Again I'm pretty sure this falls unlawful imprisonment as you said above. Makes my stomach sick. My siblings all agree with this action and my children are fine with it as well I feel alone and confused. I can only think about my scared mother when she tries to open the door but can't 😞
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I will assume this is for nightime only. Even then, it is against the Fire code to do this. My Mom was set up in our family room. There was a bath down there and easy access to the outside to our cars. I did have child resistant covers on the doorknob so she could not get out. I was able to put a gate on her door that kept her from wandering my house at night. Maybe a dutch door can be put in. The bottom can be locked but the top kept open.

If Mom has no money, you can apply for Medicaid and place her in a nice Longterm care facility.
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Scampie1 Aug 16, 2026
Joanne,

This is an excellent suggestion!
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If somethiing were to happen...
In an emergency your mother can't get out. First responders can't get in.
Why not lock up the dog and only allow it out when it can be supervised. That is how she is treating your mother.
And if something were to happen and your mother died as a result of being locked into the room your sister would probably be charged with anyth8ing from involuntary manslaughter, felony murder. If she did not die as a result the charge might be unlawful restraint.
Options
Place mom in a facility that can manage her care
Hire a full time caregiver
Lock up the dog rather than locking up mom
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Reply to Grandma1954
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How cruel to your mother. If you can’t reason with your sister to change this situation, please call Adult Protective Services in her county and report this
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