Memory or manipulation?

Hi there! I’ve posted a similar topic before but a recent issue has come up with my 73 year old mother. She lives over seas as a retiree and has a very bad spending problem. She came into some money years ago and used some of that money per visa requirements. Last Christmas she asked for the same amount again for the same reason. (The visa requirements for the money are that the retiree needs to hold a specific amount in a local bank account as proof of income. ) I refused to give it to her ( a large sum) as I assumed if she actually needed it for what she said it would have been a bigger problem since she would have had visa problems. She backed off and just asked for it again. Because of her spending issues I’m not sure if she’s trying to manipulate me into sending her the money (I have POA over her finances) or if she actually spent the money because she forgot it was there or spent it figuring she could get more OR she’s forgotten it’s there. Anyone experienced anything like this or have any advice/ideas? I had a friend who’s parent kept spending their own money forgetting they needed it in their account and shortly after was diagnosed with dementia-wondering if that’s where I am at.