Hello
My mother-in-law has the early stages of Alzheimers, she is 64. We are in a transition stage where she is capable of doing most things. We have an enduring power of attorney and have taken over looking after her finances. However she has a debit card as she is still able to go out and buy grocerys etc. We want her to be able to maintain her independence as long as possible as we have been advised this is the best course.
The problem is:
As she spends a lot of time at home she has Sky television, which she enjoys. Her favorite channels are the shopping ones, she seems to get a buzz from phoning up and ordering, once she has ordered an item, she forgets what it is she has ordered. She orders inappropriately, she has even ordered an excersise machine. We laugh with her and say the only excercise she has with it is walking around the box in the hall. She mainly orders jewellery which is overpriced and of poor quality.
It's a very difficult situation as peoples opinions on what they buy vary, someone may question how much I spend on plants on the garden. So are we right to question what she chooses to buy, except we worry that she does not remember. Of course there is the question of finances dwindling, but I suppose it is her money, although because of social services does she have a right to spend it?
The options:
Initially I thought I would phone BT and block her making calls to the shopping channel numbers, apparently this cannot be done as they are freephone numbers.
I have next tried writing to the channels including a copy of the ept. QVC were very good and said they would cancel her accounts and monitor the situation.
Vector which is where she spends the majority of the money say that if she has a card they will take the order, even after I questioned their morals!
I have spoken to the bank, they said the only option is to take her card from her and give her a cash card. The problem with this is she won't remember the pin number. She normally gets cash as cash-back.
Has anyone any other suggestions?
Thank you for taking the time to read this.
Regards
Lisa
My mother-in-law has the early stages of Alzheimers, she is 64. We are in a transition stage where she is capable of doing most things. We have an enduring power of attorney and have taken over looking after her finances. However she has a debit card as she is still able to go out and buy grocerys etc. We want her to be able to maintain her independence as long as possible as we have been advised this is the best course.
The problem is:
As she spends a lot of time at home she has Sky television, which she enjoys. Her favorite channels are the shopping ones, she seems to get a buzz from phoning up and ordering, once she has ordered an item, she forgets what it is she has ordered. She orders inappropriately, she has even ordered an excersise machine. We laugh with her and say the only excercise she has with it is walking around the box in the hall. She mainly orders jewellery which is overpriced and of poor quality.
It's a very difficult situation as peoples opinions on what they buy vary, someone may question how much I spend on plants on the garden. So are we right to question what she chooses to buy, except we worry that she does not remember. Of course there is the question of finances dwindling, but I suppose it is her money, although because of social services does she have a right to spend it?
The options:
Initially I thought I would phone BT and block her making calls to the shopping channel numbers, apparently this cannot be done as they are freephone numbers.
I have next tried writing to the channels including a copy of the ept. QVC were very good and said they would cancel her accounts and monitor the situation.
Vector which is where she spends the majority of the money say that if she has a card they will take the order, even after I questioned their morals!
I have spoken to the bank, they said the only option is to take her card from her and give her a cash card. The problem with this is she won't remember the pin number. She normally gets cash as cash-back.
Has anyone any other suggestions?
Thank you for taking the time to read this.
Regards
Lisa