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Your mom is reaching out to you for help by telling you she's overwhelmed with bills and such. My dad did the EXACT same thing to me when he and mom lived in Independent Senior Living nearby. I took all his "paperwork" over to my house and told my husband, they need Assisted Living now. In AL, I paid all the bills and they just got the "fun mail". Everything was taken care of FOR them either by staff or by me. Right after I took dad's paperwork home to sort thru, he fell and broke his hip. The AL decision was made for him by the rehab team who determined he was unfit to live alone, or with help from my mom who was also compromised. It would've been the blind leading the blind.

Look into moving mom into AL and taking over her finances before she has a crisis. Then it's a lot more stressful, trust me.

Best of luck. None of this is easy.
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Reply to lealonnie1
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Once you begin helping mom with these tasks, she may believe she's still living independently but actually she won't be. You'll be propping her up, and your duties will increase incrementally.

Once elders with dementia get in a certain mindset, you can't convince them of anything. It becomes a scenario of their thinking everything is fine because they live independently, and they actually believe it, so of course they resist going to assisted living or memory care where they need to be. And you become the bad person for even suggesting facility care. Which by that time you are eager for because you're exhausted with HER life tasks, care and feeding and entertaining her and listening to her complain and having no life of your own.

Suggestion: Get all the legal work taken care of and start looking at care facilities. You don't have to tell mom that's what you're doing, it's just to prepare yourself for the inevitable day when something happens that you KNOW you cannot handle yourself. If you're good at manipulating her around to thinking something you want her to think, start suggesting how wonderful it would be to have her own things in her own place down the hall from her friend Mrs. Fintwhistle, and they could go on planned outings to the candy factory together with other lovely folks who also live there.

Good luck, I hope things go well.
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Reply to Fawnby
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Not being able to pay bills is an early sign of cognitive decline/dementia/alzheimers.

Have the bills emailed to you (not mailed) and pay her bills remotely.

In many cases not paying the bills is the first sign of cognitive decline.
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Reply to brandee
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Being overwhelmed where you can't keep track of appts, not being able to prioritize and can't pay your bills are all part of executive dysfunction. This is an early sign of cognitive decline, Dementia. Mom should see her doctor and have testing done. If you have POA, then this is the time to take over her bill paying and making sure your up on her appts. I had to do this for my Mom.
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Reply to JoAnn29
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You should first go to an attorney and be certain that whether in a will as springing POA or as POA you are able to function to do executive functions for your mother. That is number one for the new year. You will need to discuss with her honestly why this must now be done, due to the changes you are seeing and to insure she is safely cared for should she be unable to manage these things. Be certain also at this attorney that he end of life wishes are clearly written in an Advance Directive, and that your are medical POA.

Step two is a full assessment, starting in pcp office and with referral to neuro-psyc MD.

There is really no getting around a need for these first steps. After that it is more one day at a time with your educating yourself on all you will learn in these first two steps, and in being willing to step in where and when needed.
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Reply to AlvaDeer
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Make sure mom has important legal documents in place, such as an advance directive, will, POA for healthcare and financial decisions. Take her for an updated medical evaluation, expressing your concerns to the doctor prior to the appointment using the patient portal. Talk honestly with mom about her future, possibilities if she can no longer live independently one day. Make sure she hears you on what level of caregiving you can and cannot provide, and don’t overpromise out of obligation. Mom is blessed to have your concern and care, just lead with honesty
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Reply to Daughterof1930
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You are probably helping her now, which is why you know all about the problems she is facing. Options to consider:
1) Suggest she moves to Assisted Living. There will be less for her to organise.
2) Make a list of all the problems, then go with her to an attorney for advice about what to put in place. If you both go together, it may be reassuring for her to hear it all from a professional.

Good luck to both of you!
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Reply to MargaretMcKen
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No. She just says she is so overwhelmed and can't keep up.
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Reply to Gardengate5592
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Has your mother asked for help ?
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Reply to southernwave
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Gardengate5592 Dec 23, 2025
No she has not asked for help. She just continually says how overwhelmed she is.
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