My mother, 93, believes the TV "talks with her". She has recently started leaving the house early in the morning and/or late at night to help the TV broadcaster she is "getting married to" find the house.
I am caring for her alone, and so far she has been returned by fabulous neighbors unharmed. I have thought of discontinuing the Direct TV subscription, but not sure if that would be helpful.
I am now sleeping on the couch and fearful of leaving for errands.
Install locks on the doors that only unlock with a key or a numerical combination.
She was much happier when she moved into residential care, and although I slept better, I’d already gained 60+ pounds of stress weight.
I had the same problem and I actually had a keyed inside deadbolt. So that a key had to be used to open the door. I wore keys around my neck for 4 years 24/7.
There was a program in the County where I live called CareTrack and the county Health Department fitted my Husband with a device that looked like a watch. information and a photo was taken on my Husband and if he wandered off I was to call the police and tell them he was on the program. They came and set up like a little command station at the end of my driveway and they got out the book, got his "signal" information then an officer rode around with an antenna that would pick up the signal.
There are other devices that can be fitted in a shoe, on a bracelet. Or depending on if the person carries a cellphone you can find a person that way.
PLEASE let the Fire Department and the Police Department know that you have a vulnerable person that wanders so that if you have to call them they can respond fast. (you do not have to wait 24 hours.)
You can not leave her alone.
If you can not get caregivers to help you might have to consider the option of placing her in Memory Care.