My 90 year old grandmother was recently diagnosed with dementia. She already accuses us of stealing her stuff since we had to take her car keys away. When the holidays come around she will be distraught that these things are missing. We ask her if she gave the items away, she swears she didn't but relatives say she gave it to them and will not return them. They live out of state so retrieving them would be difficult.
Personally, I think it's tacky of relatives not to return something that was allegedly freely given, but that's probably beside the point.
As to legal action, there's a question of fact - did she or did she not give the items away, vs. the relatives' claims that she did. I really doubt any law enforcement agency would get involved with this kind of fact discrepancy, especially since your grandmother has been diagnosed with dementia.
I suppose you could ask APS to intervene, but I'm not sure they would for something that doesn't jeopardize her health. However, if the items are significant and worth thousands of dollars, they might at least have some suggestions for you.
The mature thing to do would be for the relatives to just return the items, and wait until they're ready for disposition after your grandmother passes. If they don't, perhaps they should just stay away and not bother her, unless she really wants to see them.
I'm wondering though how it was that they visited and took the items without anyone else becoming aware of the situation.
I'm wondering as well if GM has a will, or has designated anyone to act under a power of attorney. If not, that's something that becomes a priority if she still has enough cognition to execute legal documents.
But, maybe she will forget about at least some of the items.
That said, I once had to buy my mother a replacement for a TEA TOWEL that went missing. Fortunately the one I could find at WalMart looked similar enough and it worked. Sooo...maybe start shopping? Tell her they were "borrowed" and/or so and so is keeping it safe for you? There is no good reason these greedy relatives could not wait and not cause you this particular headache, IMHO!!
She then directed me to take it back home for her.
I still have it.
PS, you mention her will as if that has a bearing here. It doesn't. If you want to protect her things in the future, don't leave her alone with vultures.