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Senior Hoarding: A Last Resort Option for
Families
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At 78, Don has progressed from messy collector to
hoarder. He was always a collector. When it only involved his
garage, his shed, and his "tool" collection no one much worried.
After his wife passed away a decade ago, the collection began
spreading like a weed patch. It gradually grew into the dining
room, the bedrooms, the kitchen, and even the bathroom. Because
his bed was buried, Dan started sleeping in his recliner
surrounded by piles of newspapers, auto parts, old rags, clothing
and a drill press.
Although from time to time he would talk vaguely about "getting
organized," actually doing anything about the overwhelming clutter
seemed to be beyond him.
One day a year or so ago, Don's son and daughter had had enough.
They worried constantly about Don's safety in that minefield of a
house, where a fall and a broken hip or a deadly fire seemed to be
inevitable. They rented a dumpster and proceeded, over Don's loud
objections, to remove everything they deemed to be "junk." Over a
long weekend they excavated the beds and uncovered the floor. Don
again had a livable house.
Unfortunately, getting all the junk out of the house did not solve
Don's need to collect. Within a year the mounds had returned and
the house was just about as badly cluttered as previously.
Hoarders don't collect because their stash has a monetary value.
Most appear to be unable to judge the intrinsic value of
individual items. Because everything they surround themselves with
is equally important, they can throw nothing away. Being
surrounded by their "stuff" seems to give them a sense of comfort
and security.
When their hoard is removed, most hoarders have a compulsion to
restore the status quo that they were comfortable with. Give them
enough resources and they will restore their hoard just as quickly
as they can. They will acknowledge that it's unpleasant not to be
able to move around or use their furniture. They will agree that
they are sad and embarrassed that they can't invite people into
their homes. Yet the option of moving out the "junk" is much worse
for them than being in a dirty and crowded environment.
Some experts link hoarding with obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder is very difficult to treat if the
patient is not willing to work hard to make changes. An unwilling
hoarder will do whatever is necessary to keep collecting.
Worried grown children often ask how they can "make" their parent
throw out enormous piles of obvious junk. Some even resort to
grabbing the first opportunity to clean out the house without
permission if their parent is hospitalized or away from home.
Tempting as the impulse to clean out a hoarder's stash must be, we
have to say that bringing in the dumpster is probably not a useful
idea.
Not only is it illegal to remove someone else's possessions, it
will rarely be effective. A hoarder will simply work extremely
hard to get things back to what feels normal and comfortable as
soon as possible. As surely as grass grows, the clutter and
accumulation will soon be back in place. A hoarder cannot be
forced to change. Change will happen only if and when a hoarder is
ready. Arguing or pleading will not be productive. Indeed,
argument usually leads only to more argument and increased
hostility.
Although it may not be completely safe or hygienic, all legally
competent adults have the right to live as they choose as long as
their habits do not create a public nuisance or health risk.
However, if their living conditions put older hoarders in imminent
danger of harm, sometimes the authorities can step in or at least
offer assistance. Once in a blue moon an older hoarder will
actually accept help with de-cluttering and cleaning. While this
is rare, it may be worth giving a try if any of the following
conditions exist:
• There is no water
• The toilet and shower/bathtub cannot be safely reached or are
not working
• There are obvious fire code violations
• Exits (doors and windows) are blocked
• There are rodents, bugs and signs of animal waste
• There is spoiled or infested food
• There are strong odors
• Kitchen appliances cannot be safely used or are not working
• Electrical outlets are blocked or overloaded
• Furnace is not working or heating ducts are blocked
If you know of a senior hoarder living in conditions that you
believe are unsafe and you have made no headway, make a report to
your local adult protective services organization (in Texas 1
(800) 252-5400), the fire department and the department of
public health. Sometimes the involvement of an authoritative
outsider will be the catalyst. These organizations can sometimes
convince a hoarder to make changes that family have been
unsuccessful with for years.
If someone makes a report, the authorities must investigate. Some
agencies receive reports about the same person time after time. If
conditions do not seem to be extremely dangerous, even these
agencies are limited to volunteering help. However, after several
visits, some seniors have been known to finally accept help. So
don't hesitate to make a report to your local Adult Protective
Services and your city government agencies if you have genuine
concerns about a senior hoarder. Even baby steps in the direction
of un-cluttering are significant when it comes to out-of-control
hoarding.
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