Hi everyone.My mum is 62 and has young onset dementia. Due to this she had to stop working as a nurse, but is still able to work 2 days a week in a supermarket. Unfortunately finances are very tight as she still has a mortgage to pay. I give her some money a month, but my siblings and I have noticed she walks to her local supermarket around 5 times a week for something to do (especially worse in lockdown). Some days she will spend only £5 but others around £20. It's really adding up and her food bills have been over £300 a month. She lives alone and doesn't eat excessively and we're struggling to figure out what she spends it on. She may be getting cashback some times. When we ask, she can't remember what she has bought and the fridge/cupboards don't look particularly well stocked. She isn't the most financially savvy (even pre-diagnosis) and so will just buy the same things she knows - eg a particular brand of orange juice even if there are cheaper options
We've put a big notice board and one of those magnet shopping lists on the fridge and spent some time going through writing what she needs on the paper and taking it with her, as well as asking her to try to keep receipts but it's still really difficult. My brother or sister who live closer than me are taking her to aldi once a week now to try to get everything she needs then, in the hope it might cut down a bit. We have LPA for finance and have access to her online bank account.
It's obviously good for her to get out for a walk, and I don't want to take away her card as she would struggle with cash but equally don't want her in a position where she is at the check out with a card that won't go through as she will get really confused.I spoke to her bank but they didn't advise much.
Just wondered if anyone else has been through similar or has any words of wisdom/advice they can share? Thank you
We've put a big notice board and one of those magnet shopping lists on the fridge and spent some time going through writing what she needs on the paper and taking it with her, as well as asking her to try to keep receipts but it's still really difficult. My brother or sister who live closer than me are taking her to aldi once a week now to try to get everything she needs then, in the hope it might cut down a bit. We have LPA for finance and have access to her online bank account.
It's obviously good for her to get out for a walk, and I don't want to take away her card as she would struggle with cash but equally don't want her in a position where she is at the check out with a card that won't go through as she will get really confused.I spoke to her bank but they didn't advise much.
Just wondered if anyone else has been through similar or has any words of wisdom/advice they can share? Thank you
