Community Grievance Decision Digest

Clothing and Laundry

The decision summaries regarding this law may be found in the document:
  Community Grievance Decision Digest: Decisions. (PDF, 512KB)  

THE LAW:

Each patient shall: "Be permitted to use and wear his or her own clothing and personal articles, or be furnished with an adequate allowance of clothes if none are available. Provision shall be made to launder the patient's clothing."

ss. 51.61(1)(q), Wis. Stats. [Emphasis added.]

"(1) Inpatients shall be permitted to wear their own clothing as authorized under s. 51.61(1)(q), Stats., and this section.

(2) If inpatients do not have enough of their own clothing, they shall be furnished with appropriate non-institutional clothing of proper size as follows:

(a) There shall be sufficient clothing to allow each patient at least one change of underwear a day and 3 changes of clothing a week; and

(b) There shall be clothing which is appropriate for patients to wear out of doors and on trips or visits in all weather conditions.

(3) All inpatients shall be provided with laundry service or, if the patient can use a washer and dryer, with access to washers and dryers. Facilities shall take reasonable measures to prevent the loss of inpatients' clothing during use of laundry services."

DHS 94.26, Wis. Admin. Code [Emphasis added.]

Last Updated: November 10, 2009