Obsession with plastic bags.

My MIL was never diagnosed with Dementia. At 91 there was probably some decline. At Thanksgiving she complained of back pain. By Christmas in-laws said something was wrong. By Feb it was found she had a UTI and went to the hospital. While in Rehab we tackled her house. On the outside looked great, just don't open any closets. Magazines literally filled one closet. My SIL found that a tall dresser had plastic grocery bags full of junk mail. Was this proof of decline or side effect of the UTI.

Dementia is unpredictable, no rhymn or reason.

My mom and grandma lived through the depression and neither were hoarders. Both were extremely organized and liked things very neat.

My MIL wasn’t a hoarder either but my husband’s grandmother was another story altogether. She kept bags, bought extra of everything. She had an entire closet full of toilet paper! LOL

My mom started keeping plastic bags, twist ties, plastic containers, etc. She was born in 1948 post war Germany. She had always been frugal and the dementia made it more pronounced. When she was still living at home and I would visit I would just "make them disappear" by throwing them away when she wasn't looking. She never missed them. If it bothers you maybe you can do the same.

All sorts of OCD type behaviors are quite common with Alzheimer's and dementia. So is packing clothing in luggage and rummaging thru drawers looking for things. While mom has an obsession with plastic bags now, that could change or morph into something different at a later time, or disappear completely. It sounds harmless enough, so I wouldn't worry about it. If she becomes agitated or anxiety ridden with these plastic bags, then it's time to call the doctor for some calming meds.

Mom carried used grocery bags with her in another used grocery bag hanging from her walker. She carried "ALL" her stuff hanging from her walker. In bags. She insisted that we save all bags, paper and plastic and so we did.

All in all--it wasn't something I ever gave 2 thoughts about. When she began to wear incontinence briefs, we were always glad she had a spare bag to put the wet Depends in.

My grandma kept rubber bands. Thousands of them. Also, many 'missing' puzzle pieces. Like we would do a puzzle and be missing one piece and then go through the 100's of pieces she had saved to find the right one.

Living through the Depression was Gma's excuse. Mom was just a packrat.

I'd put my foot down about using plastic bags for luggage. That's just nutty. (I am thinking of the thin, cheap grocery store ones, not the heavy 'vinyl' carryons.)