MiL is fiercely independent, has money, lives alone about 4 hours from us, very mobile, 86 years old.
Her only "weakness" is depression (medicated) and an absolute fear of paper / bureaucracy/ admin tasks. So we do all that. She also gets very worked up about guests (taking days to prepare and making herself ill with worrying) so we have "banned" visitors to the house and help her to organise meeting friends in tea shops, hotels etc.
She knows loads of people and is out most days. She even "cares" for a younger and less mobile neighbour who she has been visiting in hospital about 12 mikes away. She still drives but the bus is free so she uses that mostly.
She had a visit from the police. She has been twice seen on CCTV in a shop in the hospital town stealing - a purse and a scarf. She was too distraught to talk to the police who called adult SS (she has no dealing with them but assume it was to get someone on her side) as she refused to allow us to be called.
She finally told DH today. We have called the police for a chat and await that. We can get her legal help and may phone the shop and pay.
She also searched the house and can't find the items, which is weird.
Is this a sign of something. Age? Two siblings died of dementia at about her age (very late onset) but depression?
We can solve practical stuff but this is going to hugely knock her confidence. We have long term plans to move her near us but she will lose all her clubs and social life so she is not keen until absolutely necessary.
She is distraught. Not sleeping, eating.
Ideas?