Caregiver guide
People with dementia hiding things: why it happens and what helps
People with dementia often hide things to keep them safe, then forget where they put them. Rummaging and hiding are usually a search for comfort, control or something to do. You can't always stop it, but you can protect what matters and make it easier to find things.
The case of the missing glasses, again
Car keys in the freezer. Dentures in a sock drawer. Mail stuffed under the mattress. Bananas in a purse. If you're caring for someone living with dementia, you've probably found things in some very strange places.
Hiding and rummaging are some of the most common behavior changes in Alzheimer's and other dementias. They can be funny one day and maddening the next, especially when your person blames you for "stealing" what they hid.
When you feel your frustration rising, remember: it's part of the disease. Your person isn't trying to make your day harder.
Why do people with dementia hide things?
There's usually a reason, even if your person can't tell you what it is:
- To keep things safe. They worry someone will take their wallet or jewelry, so they hide it, then forget the hiding place.
- Looking for something. They may be searching for an item, a person, or a feeling of home.
- Hunger or thirst. Rummaging in the kitchen may mean they're hungry, even if they just ate.
- Boredom. Opening drawers and sorting things gives hands something to do.
- Control. As more choices are taken away, keeping track of their own things can feel important.
- Memory loss. They may put something down in an odd place and simply not remember.
Try to figure out the "why." Your response will work better when it fits the cause.
What stage of dementia is hiding things?
Hiding things and rummaging are most common in the middle stages of dementia, when memory loss is clear but the person is still active and able to move around the house. Some families notice it earlier, often as misplaced items and accusations that things were stolen.
Every person is different. If hiding comes with new suspicion or fear, see our guide to hallucinations and paranoia.
Rummaging with safety
Lock up anything dangerous
Put medicines, cleaning products, firearms, sharp tools and car keys out of sight and reach, or in a locked cabinet.
Clean out spoiled food
Check the fridge, pantry and your person's room often. They may not notice that food has gone bad.
Move valuables and papers
Put jewelry, checkbooks, credit cards, important papers and spare keys somewhere safe.
Protect the mail
If mail keeps disappearing, consider a post office box, or a locked mailbox.
Close off unused rooms
Fewer places to explore means fewer places to hide things.
Cover the trash
Keep trash cans covered or out of sight, and check them before you empty them.
How to stop someone with dementia from hiding things
You may not be able to stop hiding completely, but you can make it less stressful:
- Make a rummage drawer. Fill a drawer, box or basket with safe things to sort and handle: old wallets, costume jewelry, scarves, keys on a ring, socks to pair, or towels to fold.
- Give them a special place. A personal box or cupboard for "their" things can satisfy the need to keep things safe. Remind them where it is.
- Learn the hiding spots. Most people use the same few places. Check them regularly, when your person isn't watching.
- Keep spares. Have extra glasses, keys, remote controls and hearing aid batteries on hand.
- Keep hands busy. Simple chores, music or a walk can fill the time when rummaging tends to start. Our free Harmony in Care Music Box can help.
- Stay calm. Say "Let's look together" instead of "Where did you put it this time?"
When things go missing: money, mail and accusations
Lost checkbooks, unpaid bills and missing mail can cause real problems. Some caregivers find their person writing large checks or giving money away. Keep an eye on bank statements and set up account alerts if you can.
It's also common for your person to accuse you or others of stealing. Don't argue or defend yourself. Help look for the item and reassure them it will turn up. Explain to family members that this is the disease.
Sometimes, though, things really are being taken. People living with dementia can be targets for scams and theft. If money or valuables keep disappearing and you can't find them in the usual spots, look into it.
You're not alone in this
Hunting for lost keys every morning wears down even the most patient caregiver. The Alzheimer's & Dementia Resource Center (ADRC) offers free help:
- Care Navigation, one-on-one sessions to make a plan for your home.
- Caregiver support groups, where you'll hear what other families have tried, and probably laugh about where things turned up.
Hiding things often goes along with other changes. See our guides to dementia behavior changes and dementia wandering.
Need to talk now, day or night? Call the Alzheimer's Association 24/7 Helpline at 800-272-3900.
Hiding and rummaging: common questions
Where do people with dementia usually hide things?
Common spots include drawers, pockets, purses, shoes, under the mattress or cushions, inside pillowcases, in the freezer or oven, in plant pots and in the trash. Each person tends to reuse a few favorite places.
Why does someone with dementia hide food?
They may be hungry, worried there won't be enough, or saving it for later and then forgetting. Offer regular meals and snacks, and check hiding spots often so spoiled food doesn't get eaten.
Why does my person throw things away?
They may not recognize an item, think it's trash, or be trying to tidy up. Check the trash before you empty it, and keep important things out of reach.
Why is my person obsessed with tissues or napkins?
Folding, stuffing and collecting tissues is common. It may be soothing, give hands something to do, or feel like being prepared. If it's harmless, let it be. Offer a basket of cloths or napkins to fold instead.
Is hoarding a sign of dementia?
It can be. Collecting and hoarding can appear with Alzheimer's, vascular dementia and frontotemporal dementia. A sudden new habit of hoarding or hiding in an older adult is worth mentioning to the doctor.
Why does my person accuse me of stealing?
When someone forgets where they put something, it can seem like the only explanation is that someone took it. Stay calm, don't argue, and help them look. It's the disease, not a judgment of you.
Should I take away my person's valuables?
Move what you can't afford to lose, like important papers, credit cards and good jewelry, to a safe place. Leave some familiar things your person can handle, such as an old wallet with a few dollars or costume jewelry, so they still feel in control.
Why does my person keep moving things around?
Moving and rearranging items can come from restlessness, trying to tidy, or looking for something. Give them safe things to sort and a regular activity during the time of day it happens most.
Download the free guide to rummaging and hiding things
Keep this one-page tip sheet from the National Institute on Aging on hand. This page is based in part on National Institute on Aging guidance.
Free help for dementia caregivers in Central Florida
The Alzheimer's & Dementia Resource Center (ADRC) in Winter Park, Florida, offers free help for caregivers in Orange and Seminole counties. Call (407) 436-7750, Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.