my husband has Alzheimers. We are on a fixed income and it is hard to care for him myself. An older woman in my parish was recommended as a sitter. At first I thought I was going crazy because small things have been missing for a while now - buttons, books, small things. On Sunday I looked for a necklace I loved, it was from my grandmother. The next time I saw her in public she was wearing my grandmother's pearl necklace. - she looked me in the eye ans smile. The pearls are small, but the clasp is a cameo that my husband had put on many yaers ago for our anniversary so it is quite recognizable. I am so angry and hurt. I feel that I have paid her and been her friend and relied on her and now I am left alone caring for my husband and can't get over this sense of betrayal. What do I do? I am torn between calling my minister and calling the police but it doesn't help the pain. HELP!
I suggest you talk to your minister. I wonder if there is an explanation. For example, did your husband give that necklace to her and insist she take it? Of course no caregiver should accept gifts like that from a client with dementia but perhaps in her mind this wasn't stealing. I'm just trying to reconcile the stealing with how she could face you wearing the stolen item!
Perhaps this is a matter for the police, but first I would go to the minister and ask him or her to intervene and try to get to the bottom of this perplexing behavior.
My heart goes out to you. Please let us know how this works out.