|
It started in the garage, then it
moved into the "guest" bedroom. Before long it crept
into the kitchen and began slowly moving out into the
rest of the house. Now it's taken over, and the older
adult who lives there is held hostage. What is it?
It's "Stuff." It's "Things I Might Need Some Day."
It's Hoarding.
Mrs. S. was always a collector. When the accumulation
of trash and treasures grew to the point that she
could no longer safely walk to the bathroom or sleep
in her own bed her children convinced her to move into
a retirement community. Within a year her spotless new
apartment was in the same condition.
Hoarding is not simply clutter. Hoarding is keeping so
many things that space
necessary for basic living may be compromised. A
hoarder may accumulate only certain kinds of items,
such as clothing, food or magazines and newspapers.
Others may collect everything and anything that comes
into the home.
Collecting behaviors often begin in early adulthood.
By the time these collectors reach their senior years,
living with and adding to the accumulation of a
lifetime is the only way the hoarder feels safe and
comfortable. While the hoarder may be willing to agree
that there is a problem, he is also emotionally
attached to each thing. Choosing even one to throw
away is painful and overwhelming. Therefore, nothing
can be discarded, even if safety and health are at
stake.
Hoarding behaviors in older family members can be very
upsetting. Adult children who feel a responsibility
for their parents' well being are often frustrated by
their inability to clean out decades of accumulation.
They 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.
Not only is this approach probably illegal, it will
rarely be effective. Just as we saw with Mrs. S., a
hoarder will do everything in his or her power to get
things back to "normal." As surely as the sun rises,
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.
Legally competent adults―those who have not been
declared incompetent by a court of law―have the right
to live as they choose if their choice is not
immediately life threatening. Arguing will not be
productive. Indeed, argument usually leads to more
argument and hostility.
That said, compulsive hoarding can and does often lead
to imminent danger. The following are several
indicators that investigation by authorities is
warranted:
|
• |
There is no water |
|
• |
There are strong odors |
|
• |
There are rodents, bugs and signs of
animal waste |
|
• |
The
toilet and shower/bathtub cannot be safely
reached or are not working |
|
• |
Exits (doors and windows) are blocked |
|
• |
Electrical outlets are blocked or
overloaded |
|
• |
Furnace is not working or heating ducts
are blocked |
|
• |
There are obvious fire code violations |
|
• |
There is spoiled or infested food |
|
• |
Kitchen appliances cannot be safely used
or are not working |
If a senior you know is living in
conditions that you believe are unsafe and you have
been unable to effect a change, make a report to your
local adult protective services organization, the fire
department and the department of public health. These
organizations can be great allies in the quest to
provide a safe living environment for a senior.
However, if the conditions in the home don't appear to
be life threatening when they visit, even these
agencies will be limited to offering help. They can't
force a legally competent adult to stop hoarding or to
clean up a messy environment unless health and safety
are at risk or environmental regulations have been
violated.
|
