I have a coffee shop buddy --- not a close friend, but we usually sit together if we're there at the same time. Twice recently she has told me the same anecdote twice inside an hour. She's in her seventies, lives alone and has no local family. Is there something I should say? Do? Should I just assume that other people who are closer to her have probably noticed also?
Unless you are close with her, I wouldn’t call attention to it. If she seems like she is able to take care of herself, don’t interfere. You don’t know what provisions her family has made for her or what her life is truly like. You are the most casual of acquaintances. Only interfere if she gives you reason to truly fear for her safety.
Now, THOSE are the thing you worry about.
Her DH is a functioning alcoholic who does not take well to outsiders stepping in. I went to her youngest daughter and told her what we'd observed. Sadly, daughter said her other sisters were aware and were "treating' mom with essential oils.
Not my problem, esp since I informed her family, such as it was.
She's going into decline very fast. She doesn't have the spark in her eyes she always had--she looks confused all the time.
Dh did take away her car keys--but I don't know who I fear most on the road: The undiagnosed dementia patient or the alcoholic.
One of my friends became awfully forgetful while she was going through chemotherapy for breast cancer.
Though it can be tricky because you're not particularly close personal friends, I think you can bring it up in a chatty way, by talking about yourself. Maybe something like, "I have a friend whose mom lost thousands of dollars being taken advantage of by a scammer. It really made me think about protecting my own finances. Do you have an advisor or someone who helps you with that sort of thing?" Anything to broach the subject and feel out how she's faring in that area. She sounds like she may be in the early stages, so probably isn't doing anything dangerous (wandering, etc), but all her choice-making ability will disappear if she is making bad financial decisions. She's especially vulnerable with no family around. Maybe they are keeping tabs from a distance though.
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