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What can we do?

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If she's living in your house lock the cupboards and the fridge. She gets only what you give her and don't allow any food in her bedroom.

If she's living alone, she should not be.
Helpful Answer (2)
Reply to BurntCaregiver
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Don’t question her about it. It will only upset you both.

Some people padlock the frig and pantry. Seems a bit extreme. I guess it depends on whether she is taking a big ham or a crust of bread. You could limit the places you store the type food items she is attracted to.

Cameras might be helpful to spend less time looking for it. Those could be placed in her room, in the kitchen or dining area. You might detect a pattern.

Fewer hiding places in her room might be helpful. But it seems you already know where to look.

Or you might give her a large ziplock for her drawer and ask her to put what she needs in the ziplock. You could even hand the bag to her at the table to put anything she wants in it.

Know that this behavior will pass. She will start doing something else that her mental condition compels her to do.

Best to manage your own anxiety about her losses or they can overwhelm you. I’m sorry that you and mom are dealing with this no win situation.
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Reply to 97yroldmom
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Take her to a neurologist and get her dementia diagnosed as that is what it sounds like she has.
And then you start learning all you can about this horrific disease of dementia so you will be better prepared for what lies ahead.
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Reply to funkygrandma59
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This is one of many possible dementia behaviors. She’s lost the ability to reason and make good decisions as her brain is under attack and sadly dying. In the home, if you don’t want this to happen, the choice is to cut off her access to food, a lot of effort and vigilance on your part, or watch her 24/7, very tiring for caregivers.
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Reply to Daughterof1930
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This is what dementia looks like, she needs to live where there is 24/7 supervision.
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Reply to cwillie
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