Early Stage Dementia-money query

[TinyMouseTheatre]

DM has been diagnosed although I'd say she isn't that far advanced, although I might be a bit in denial.

She lives on her own in a Carr Plus place and seems ok there.

I took her shopping this afternoon and she insisted on keeping her bag in the trolley and then wandered off repeatedly leaving her open bag in the trolley. I was with her this time so was able to stay with the bag and trolley but she does go shopping on her own each week once or twice.

So what can we do about the bag and purse? She has a fair sum in her current account and won't do online banking so wouldn't notice for ages if it was emptied.

Any advice?

Have you got power of attorney? If so, depending on the bank you can have access to her account and maybe set up a separate savings account to limit what’s in current account and you can keep an eye on it online

Also to reassure you - most people are good and won’t take money from an abandoned trolley with an old lady nearby. It may still happen so protect against it but it’s easy when seeing someone struggle with dementia to panic about how vulnerable they are, the reality I found was actually that majority of people are kind and considerate

As pp states get power of attorney actioned. Get your mum a pre paid card - and just load it up with £200 a time

My 80 year old, partially sighted Grandmother had her bag stolen from her trolley in the local Co-Op. Thieves generally see an opportunity not a person.

Yes they will!

I would love to think that. There are some decent, salt of the earth types, still around but she lives in Monkey Dust Central so it's always useful to be realistic as we as hopeful