we should have brought a trunk with a lock so my mom's stuff wouldn't be stolen.

More info: 

You can ask while visiting a nursing home, before choosing it, if the home has locked storage in every resident's room. Nursing homes have to provide locked storage for a resident's possessions, but the storage doesn't have to be in the resident's room. Even if the nursing home pays to replace stolen items, that will not take compensate for the sentimental value of some items, or the feelings of helplessness or anger engendered by becoming a crime victim.