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If your mother has Alzheimer's disease or another form of dementia, it is not surprising that she is experiencing some financial difficulty. Symptoms of dementia can include confusion, disorientation, and forgetfulness, as well as impaired judgment. She may not be able to comprehend the purchases she is making, or forgets about a purchase as soon as she makes one and then proceeds to enter another sweepstakes. As you have already seen, the dollars can add up rather quickly. If her spending isn't properly monitored, she runs the risk of emptying out her bank account or putting herself in financial jeopardy. At this time, it is advisable that you or a trusted family member speak to an attorney, who might suggest pursuing a Power of Attorney in order to have command over your mother's bank account and financial decision-making. Bear in mind that if your mother cannot demonstrate competency to make her own decisions, it may not be possible to obtain this document. If this is the case, you can try other means of financial monitoring to keep her safe. First and foremost, it is crucial to make sure that her basic needs are tended to and paid for. This means that her rent and bills need to be taken care of monthly so that she doesn't feel the constant responsibility of writing out checks. Someone in the family should sit down with her and assist her with the process. Once the monthly expenses are taken care of, it is a good idea to remove the checkbook until the following month, or give her a "fake" one to hold onto in the meanwhile. A goal is to maintain her sense of independence, while making sure that her expenditures are closely monitored to avoid unsafe behavior. Another way to limit her spending is by providing her with a debit card. Make sure that there is a nominal sum on it so that her purchases are limited; this is a lot safer than a credit card which can allow her to charge up a higher amount. You can also offer to hold onto her spending money and if time allows, take her shopping whenever she needs something. Time spent together can allow for some quality bonding, and will also give you the opportunity to supervise how she spends her money.