How can I stop my Mom from shredding toilet paper, blankets, her clothing etc.?

I found a new device which is not just an activity pillow, but also is a muff-structured item, where dementia patients can put their hands in and keep them warm. This device is called a "Twiddle" which provides an activity/comfort aid, which is a combination hand muff as well as an activity aid. They have some of the shape of cats and dogs, which some may like. My mother has the white cat version and she started enjoying it right away.

Thanks for the hug! I can totally relate to the need to keep someone busy. My FIL didn't feel "toys" were beneath him, his dementia made him childlike anyway. He liked to play the keyboard the most, he liked a harmonica, there was a magnetic thing I bought at Cracker Barrel that was similar to Colorforms but you could store the pieces in the tin. He liked bubbles, pinwheels, a magnetic gyro wheel, things like that. Jigsaw puzzles with larger pieces, but he liked to do those with someone else. Some people just like to fidget, and some just have no interest in anything.

If there is a common time when this occurs that would be when to focus on other activities, or to structure the shredding. If it starts after dinner, perhaps an aide could bring in a paper grocery bag and a newspaper and ask her to please shred the paper and fill the bag. Shredding something sounds like an OK way to be occupied, as long as she's not shredding her nightgown or the blanket.

Or that is when she is given a fidget toy to hold while she watches a funny movie.

In a way, having it occur at a fairly predictable time should make it easier to manage.

The Nursing Home does nothing with her...seems she gets more agitated if she is out of her room, so they just leave her to herself..They asked me what to do because of the shredding! It is mostly in the evening.

Your profile says that Mom is in a nursing home. What is their approach to dealing with this dementia issue?

Have you tried gadgets/toys that keep her hands busy. Places that sell items for persons with dementia usually have lots of these sorts of things.

Do you give her things that are OK to shred? Like junk mail and yesterday's newspaper? Ask her to fill a big paper bag with paper shreds.

Remove the shredding machine if that is what she is using, it could be physically dangerous for her if she gets a digit caught, etc. Adult day care perhaps? Mom like folding towels, so I got more towels, and that kept her busy for a bit

There are fidget aprons, lap blankets muffs, etc. that are available to keep hands busy. You might check at "best-alzheimers-products" and also do a Google search for fidget quilts. You can also try a small battery operated keyboard, puzzles, card or domino games, make a fleece blanket where she can tie the knots together, fold towels or sort socks.

Other than just keeping her hands busy, there might be an anxiety thing going on that could be helped with medication.