Is it a common thing for the elderly to claim they don't get their pills?

You say that she doesn't have Alzheimer's and that she refuses to be evaluated for dementia. In other words, she doesn't have an official diagnosis of Alzheimer's Short-term forgetfulness is one of the first symptoms of either normal cognitive impairment of the elderly or it's the start of Alzheimer's. Time will tell which it will be. In Alzheimer's, the decline is rapid and profound affecting many areas of brain functions. In normal aging, the forgetfulness advances slowly and it's limited.

As we age there is some cognitive decline. Haven't you done something that's automatic and then wasn't sure if u did it.

Yes, time to stand there and watch her take them then take the cup away.

Ann1963, I agree with the other writers, stay there until Mom takes her pills, even if it takes some time.

Some pills can be tiny and awkward to handle, thus slip out of one's hand. I had found pills under the sofa cushions and under my Dad's recliner.

Yup. Supervision required for meds to be the new rule.

If your mother needs assistance with taking her medication, you'd be well advised to complete the task and observe her taking the pills. Don't just leave her with the container, because those little beasties could be going anywhere. And then you can say in response that you watched her swallow them not five minutes ago, so what does she mean that she didn't get them? Don't say this unkindly - it is possible that she is talking about something related but different, though don't ask me what!

My DH aunt would say she had already had her pills when she had not. Either way, it’s the short term memory issue.