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What looks like clutter to us, represents
memories, travels,
friends and love to seniors.
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Charlie was a young boy during WWII
and like many of his peers he remembers how it was to make do. He tended to keep things just in case he
might need them down the road. Yet a
lifetime of storing things became something far more than being frugal when his
wife passed away. After Marge’s death the stuff accumulating around the house grew into more than just
piles of clutter. There were newspapers,
old pill bottles, and empty food containers covering every flat surface, heaps
of dirty laundry on the bed and floor and no clear path to move from room to
room. Clutter took over Charlie’s home
and started to have a negative effect on many aspects of his life.
The hoarding of objects among the elderly is a serious problem. Piles of hoarded objects can be a sign of a serious
cognitive disorder and present a safety concern which requires immediate intervention.
Hoarding as a disorder
We all keep things. For some,
the item has sentimental value and for others it is about a possible need in
the future, but often times the elderly keep things because they suffer from a cognitive
disorder. Diogenes Syndrome is a type of
obsessive-compulsive disorder which is prevalent among the elderly. It often presents itself in those suffering
from dementia or frontal lobe impairment. According to the American Geriatrics Society,
Diogenes Syndrome is usually characterized by extreme self-neglect, household
squalor, social withdrawal, apathy, compulsive hoarding of rubbish and a lack
of shame. This syndrome is usually found
in people who lack social interaction and cognitive stimulation, have suffered a
traumatic event or have a genetic predisposition to the condition. The elderly
are prime candidates for hoarding prevalent in Diogenes syndrome.
Those who suffer from elderly hoarding tend to use their possessions
as a coping mechanism. The onset of this
condition can be triggered by an emotional trauma, like the death of a spouse. The elderly person has a hard time dealing
with their loss and so fixates on something they can control. The disorder is also associated with those
suffering from fear of loss, anxiety and depression. In some cases hoarders just don’t know how to
get rid of their unwanted possessions.
In other cases the collected items are kept out of sense of loyalty to
the past or a compelling need to conserve.
No matter what is the underlying cause of hoarding, the accumulation of
things over time combined with the daily bombardment of junk mail, bills, newspapers,
dirty dishes and laundry can very easily become too overwhelming for the
elderly to deal with.
Risks of Hoarding
Having clutter around the house is risky for the elderly. Piles of
newspaper and old books not only represent a potential fall risk but can add
fuel to a fire. Old clothes lying about
on the floor invite damp, mold and mildew into the home. Dirty dishes and expired food in the cupboard
lure mice, rats and insects. Piles of
mail could hide important documents, unpaid bills or checks that need to go to
the bank.
Hoarding not only creates anxiety, stress, guilt and embarrassment for
the elderly but often destroys relationships with family members. Adult children have a hard time trying to
convince their elderly loved ones to allow them to sort through things and
throw the junk away. Relationships are
strained and isolation becomes more of an issue when family stays away due to
the unhygienic state of the home.
What to watch for
Sometimes it is hard to recognize and label the problem as Diogenes syndrome. Since confronting this issue can be difficult
for family members, it is helpful to know what signs indicate a real problem.
- Piles of clothes, newspapers, mail and unpaid bills
- Difficulty navigating safely through the house
- Frustration with sorting and organizing
- Difficulty managing activities of daily living
- Expired food in the refrigerator and cupboards
- Closets and drawer crammed with things
- Compulsive shopping
- Difficulty with discarding items
- Stroke or signs of dementia
- Loneliness
Helping an elderly loved one who is struggling with hoarding requires a lot of patience. Bombarding the home with a ‘get this done today’ attitude or secretly clearing out things behind the hoarder’s back can only aggravate the stress in their lives. It is important to remember that the house didn’t get this way because of poor housekeeping skills. A hoarder is suffering from a disorder and needs emotional help before they are ready to toss anything.
What to do to help
Experts suggest taking on small areas at a time. Help an elderly loved one clear off a table and
then praise the results. Suggest
donating items to a local charity or thrift shop. Remind that safety in the home is important
to being able to remain independent at home.
Work out an agreement of not keeping unused things for more than 6
months. Clutter is about control and
hoarders have a hard time letting things go, but allowing them to decide where
things go can be very helpful. Don’t think
that once the house is clean, the problem has gone away. Hoarders will continue keeping things and the
place will slowly fill up again unless the underlying emotional issues are
dealt with and there is practical help in keeping the clutter at bay.
Kate McCarthy is
Director of Operations for HomeAid Health Care which provides services for the
elderly who wish to remain safe and independent at home. HomeAid is sister company to Prairie Home
Assisted Living which has served the physical, spiritual, mental and health needs
of their residents since 1999. Together
the two companies provide comprehensive care for the elderly in the Fox Valley
area of Wisconsin.
