During waking hours she hides it beside her while she has her hand on it. She thinks everything she owns is in it (currently $7.00) and she doesn't understand she has money in the bank. Now that she's winning Bingo Bucks at assisted living, she has become even more obsessed to the point where she is belligerent and thinks people are trying to steal it. She appears to think the "Bucks" are real. It has become all-consuming. Help!
I think the tummy bag is a great idea; but if she won't hear of swapping her established purse maybe you could feed a belt through it and keep it close to her that way?
Also... how long has she had this particular model? Because before you throw it out, make sure it doesn't in fact contain her eternity ring inside a tissue, inside said cling film, inside a folded brown envelope, deep inside the zipped compartment.
In fact having a purse with fake money helped mom greatly during her first year in memory care - I had swapped out her normal purse for a smaller nylon cross body bag
She would spend hours going through it - counting her money and eating the little treats I would put in it - life savers and peppermint candies, a pack of cookies and the like
It was large enough to hold a readers digest
She too would sleep with it under her covers
soft stuffed animal or "blankie" One daughter had a tatered teddy the other a mouse and my son much loved panda. I had a teddy and a donkey called " Docky"
To the elderly they are frequently their only procession that they can retain control over.
Let her keep her bag. Maybe empty the used toilet paper from time to time but it is her security and so valuable that someone is sure to want to steal it.
No in case anyone is wondering I don't store used toilet tissue but i do keep my purse handy becase that way i have my check book to pay bills , my book with phone #s and appointment book to write my many appointments.
My walker has a couple of canvas bags on it plus I have rigged up a wire basket so I can transport my meals and drinks. The basket is also useful for getting groceries into the house and transporting laundry.
Until you enter old lady land you do not understand why old ladies have certain behaviors. Hubby never moves without his computer and phone. you can usually find a milky way in his car.
This is a very common behavior in dementia. My mom also had a death grip on her purse. She ate with it in her lap. She slept with it under the covers. It had a long strap and she'd wear it across her body. I couldn't move it without her freaking out. There was nothing in it but a comb, lipstick and a mirror but you'd think she had $1000. inside.
She was like that until she progressed to the end of stage 6 Alzheimer's.
She seems to have "forgotten" about it and sleeps a lot now.
Have you seen other signs that her thinking and behavior is off?
Has she had an appointment with her doctor recently?
With dementia there is no changing their behavior and they can't understand that their behavior is unusual. Dementia victims can't process information and act on it.
I'd get her checked out by her doctor.
Just recently, I have noticed a subtle change in my routine. I get dressed, I put on any make up I can be bothered with, I put on my scent, I put in my earrings... and as I stand up, I whip a Kleenex from the box and tuck into my sleeve.
Doomed!
She solved this problem. Should the team show up at her home, she had a “decoy” purse near her chair for the thieves. Being a frugal person who didn’t really want to give up anything, it didn’t really have much in it. The tissues. A pair of ankle hose. A comb. A church bulletin. It felt empty when picked up.
Her actual purse was hidden away in her bedroom. The decoy purse stayed in place so long that it was dusted along with other things in her sitting room.
MIL carried one of the big multi pocketed bags that was full of any and everything she might need. Very heavy. She would change her bag often to match her outfits. When she died a matching bag went into her coffin with many of the necessities packed inside.
Amazon do a great one -
amazon.co.uk/Unisex-Travel-Passport-Wallet-Festival/dp/B06WLN1Y96/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1522076125&sr=8-5&keywords=purse+bum+bag
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