It’s no secret that senior citizens can be preoccupied with money. They worry not only about what they have, but where it’s kept, who can access it, and how it’ll be distributed once they’ve passed. Those fears can heighten tenfold with dementia.

I never really got it; money is of course important, but I couldn’t relate to the fixation (…or so I thought). Recently, while volunteering in the Philippines, I caught a fraudulent charge from Sprint on my credit card. When I saw the $816, I lost it. I was on a paid-off trip with a $30k credit limit, money in the bank, and Chase promising me I wasn’t responsible for the charge, but I was beside myself. Long story short, I trolled Sprint’s Facebook page like a crazy ex girlfriend and they paid me back in full. I eventually got over it, but to say it was an eye opener would be an understatement.

My loves are billed monthly to live in our community and the rates are basically all-inclusive. They don’t need as much as a dollar on them, yet the money struggle is real. They’re constantly panicked about it in some capacity, whether they’re convinced it’s been stolen, determined to change their Will, or simply needing to know what’s left. I learned very quickly that assuring them they don’t need cash is useless, just as Chase’s words to me fell on deaf ears in January. Actually, I learned that any degree of rationalizing is impractical. Here’s what I do instead:

• If a nonna is convinced money has been stolen, I “review the tapes.” We have cameras everywhere and I’m calling a detective. Whoever took it will be terminated and maybe even jailed, but not before that money is returned. It will never happen again. Did she need me to loan her some in the meantime? What is she up to today; did she have shopping plans? I’ve made the mistake of swearing that the cash didn’t exist in the first place, that it had not been taken. Not only was I not helpful – I became the culprit.
• If a nonno is convinced and angry that his kids are spending his hard-earned money, I’m “going to call and give them a piece of my mind.” The audacity! It’s not theirs to spend! How many kids does he have again? Is everybody local?
• If a nonna wants it just in case and feels better knowing that it’s there, I grab it from the safe. I “keep everyone’s money locked up in my office.” I even hold IDs! For those who need more reassurance than my words can offer, I have backup: Amazon sells double-sided play money that has been an absolute lifesaver, as has my iPhone camera for fake ID photos. What a pretty picture, by the way! I look so silly in mine.

I’ve heard countless opinions on this matter. Some say not to reassure them, not to lie. Everyone is different and no advice is one-size-fits all. The recurring theme is that I validate their feelings, and I follow up with redirection. Kudos to my CC company for doing just that as they talked me off the ledge. As for Sprint: thanks for the lesson, but I still hate your guts.