My mom is losing things that she is taking out to look at and then not remembering where she puts them. My brother and I have tried to find them in her home, but we have not had much luck as she has a lot of stuff around in her closets and drawers. How do I handle this?
My mom would wrap everything i. A napkin and toss it. Glasses her dentures, her ink pen toothbrush some times half her food. It took me awhile to figure out why so many napkins.
2) Talk to her doctor (if you have a chance) about medication to calm her agitation.
3) Place cameras around her house, so you and your brother, or so mom herself, can see where she put things she lost.
4) Consider whether she is still safe living at home on her own.
If and when you have an opportunity, try to reduce the belongings so she doesn’t have as many places to hide her treasures. That can be a challenge as well.
I had a friend who developed dementia. She had a spiral notebook where she would write the names of everyone who had been to see her or she could think of trying to decide which person took whatever it was she was looking for. She drove her poor DIL crazy with her paranoia.
My DH Aunt would give things away. Then forget who she gave them to. That was a problem too as there would be someone else in the family who said she had promised the item to them. The implication was that I knew where it went and I did not.
In time this behavior will pass,
Important paperwork such as policies and titles should be put in a safe place for their use in the future. Just keep telling Mom that you're looking for what's missing and fib some little white lies. I suggest a little more information about your mom could help the forum, help you.