And of course the phone was found. Of course I looked in all the "hard" to reach areas first. In her recliner cushions, under recliner, in her loveseat cushions. Behind her desk. As I'm taking her bedding a part to make sure it's not down between blankets in the back of my mind was "where is her charger??" I went back to where she had plugged it in (per the Fri eve phone call) and no charger. Wasn't in her desk drawers or kitchen drawers. I went back to her bedroom and the 2nd dresser drawer I opened there it was. Plain as day! with the charger still plugged into it. Who knows why she put it there. She didn't even recognize it as her phone, since it's new and looks different. My only guess is that she didn't want to take it with her to watch tv at her bf's Friday evening and of course she didn't want any of those pesky people that always come in her apartment to take stuff, to take her phone, so she put it in the drawer. Again, who knows with her mind as it is now.
The battery was dead, so I plugged it in again next to her coffee pot and told her to leave it there at least a couple hours. I had her call her bf, to let him know it was found. The whole time I was searching for it she kept telling me someone must have taken it. I said nobody broke into your apartment. Your door and lock is fine. "well, maybe someone that lives here needed a phone and took it". I said well, they'd have to break your door lock to get in, since only you have the key and if someone did, they haven't used it, because there are no calls showing for it since you lost it. As soon as I realized the charger was missing too, I knew it had to be with the phone, so not down a seat cushion or at her bf's apartment somewhere.
I didn't stay much longer after that and headed back home to salvage some of the rest of my day, haha.
I think a landline is definitely your best option. One with big numbers. You can be #1 and her brother could be #2. There could be a big sign next to the phone. My husband hides everything in his dresser drawers usually under clothes. They become very worried about people stealing from them. I think it is their brain's way of compensating for their memory loss. You can also get a small tracking tab and put it on her phone that you could monitor from your phone but there would be a monthly charge.
ReplyDeletethat's what I was reading, their brain has to explain the missing things and can't explain it to themselves it's their memory causing it. I think a landline will be a good back up
DeleteA landline would solve the problem of a lost phone, but would lack portability. Do you think she would try to take it out of the apartment? My grandmother always thought people were trying to steal from her before she was diagnosed. Once, she even accused me of stealing fabric and making a skirt for myself. Even though I had bought the material, something a woman her age would never own, she "recognized" it as hers. I wonder what her bf thinks about her having found the phone, and your having to drive to find it.
ReplyDeleteI'd just get one of the desk style phones, not a cordless that she could carry around. She really has no need anymore for a cell phone anyway. When she was independent and had her car, yes, but not now. The only people who call her 99% of the time are myself and uncle. If she goes somewhere she's always with someone else now, so really no need for her to carry a cell phone around. It's just habit for her.
DeleteWe used to label things - I wonder if it might help if you label the phone area - no not remove charger? And place on the phone case - put back by the x area? Not sure if that would help or not. I am glad you found it though, maybe with time it may stick in her memory. My aunt did have things stick, but it was tough. Sigh.
ReplyDeleteboy, I have really tried labeling things as you'd think that would help, but it's like she doesn't even see the labels! I taped phone instructions (since it's a bit different than her old phone) to her counter, in front of the charger plugged in, but she will just unplug it, put it somewhere and not even notice the note taped to the counter (or anywhere)
DeleteAw man! Ok, I hope she does not lose it again/ seems like a landlinee might register better for her too.
DeleteYou might consider a Tile. You'd put on your mom's phone, and you could use your phone to locate it or see it's most recent location.
ReplyDelete