As seniors age, many begin to lose their memory, and some become paranoid. This near-constant suspicion can lead to unnecessary calls to 911, asking friends or family to keep their valuables, and even mistrust in banks. Seniors may hide their favorite personal belongings as they may be convinced that someone will steal them. Before you transition an older friend or relative to assisted living, check these hiding places to ensure you’re not leaving anything behind – the senior may not remember doing the hiding in the first place.
Plants
Does the older person have potted plants in their home? Believe it or not, this is a common hiding place for items of importance. Some may stash rolled-up cash in pill bottles and hide it under the soil. Or, the entire plant may be in a much too-large pot, allowing for storage space under a smaller pot holding the plant.
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In Clothes and Shoes
Another common place to stash valuables is in shoes. As you help a loved one make the move to an assisted living community, you’ll likely help them downsize their belongings. This means donating and giving away items like clothes and shoes. Be sure to check every pocket and inside of the shoes to ensure the senior didn’t place anything significant in them and then forget. You never know if you’ll find the family jewels hidden in some dirty tennis shoes.
On the Bookshelf
Many mystery movies feature a hidden stash of jewels or essential documents tucked away in a secret bookshelf hiding spot. This may mean a hollowed-out book or even a specific section of books glued together and hiding a box attached at the back. Make sure to flip through every book before giving it away. Some seniors also stash a bill between the pages for safekeeping, so be thorough!
Anywhere There’s Room
Reader’s Digest noted that many household appliances have small cavities that offer perfect places to hide things. A vacuum, for instance, offers plenty of room to hide important papers, money, or even photographs. Look around your loved one’s home to see what items may have room inside for hidden objects. You may be amazed at what clever places you find.
In the Vents
Another movie trick often used in gangster and crime films is to stash contraband in the air vents. Look for air return vents near the floor or the top of the wall. Use a screwdriver to remove the screws and check inside the wall. Even if your senior friend or family member can no longer stand on a chair to reach a high spot, that doesn’t mean they didn’t hide something in the air vent long ago when they were more mobile.
It’s also important to ask the person you’re helping move if they have hidden anything that they may have missed over the years. Depending on their dementia and how far in the past they may have hidden something, this could help ensure you’re not leaving anything behind.
