85-year-old Mom in deep credit card debt. What can I do about the charging and debt?

This is not your problem, and not your mother’s problem. It belongs to the companies who gave her credit without checking if she was able to pay. You don’t have to cut up cards or have a fight with her, or even try to stop her booking up more debt. She doesn’t have to be talked into filing for bankruptcy. You don’t have to give her any money, or let her live without paying her everyday living expenses. Make her pay her day-to-day costs from her SS – not buying her groceries is a big lever if she doesn't want to pay for rent and electricity etc - and just leave the whole debt problem to the creditors. Eventually they will cut off her credit, and probably consider filing for bankruptcy. When they start talking about bankruptcy they will want to know the value of every asset she owns. If she owns nothing, they may not bother to bankrupt her because they won’t get anything out of it. If you want to bring it to a head quickly, inform the creditors of the situation. If you get pestered by debt collectors, tell them that she owns nothing, her only income is SS, and the creditors can bankrupt her if they wish. The whole thing is totally irresponsible, but the creditors are the ones who started it and kept it going. Don’t take on the worry yourself.