Hoarding

How to Help Through RecoveryCoping Strategies in Real Life

Situations

Jennifer Prell, President847-829-4437

Pa em comwww.Paxem.com

Definition of a HoarderDefinition of a Hoarder

Hoarding is defined as the collection of items in excess of what is needed in a normal household that interferes with the flow and functionality of a homeinterferes with the flow and functionality of a home.

Persistent difficulty disposing of or parting with y p g p gpersonal possessions.

H d ’t j t t l t l th j tHoarders aren’t just too lazy to clean up they just can’t bring themselves to remove anything from the home.

Hoarders All AroundHoarders All Around

Teachers Teachers Professors

P h l i t Psychologists Doctors Engineers Home Makers Older Adults

Hoarders Are SmartHoarders Are Smart Hoarders know how to manipulate their loved ones Hoarders know how to manipulate their loved ones

and hide the disorder.

They typically don’t have people over.

They may look neat and tidy but their home tells They may look neat and tidy but their home tells another story.

Psychological Disordery g They most likely know that it’s wrong to own so much

but can’t stop and are out of controlbut can t stop and are out of control.

When you confront them they will become defensive y yand deny the problem.

Common Reasons for HoardingCommon Reasons for Hoarding Fear Becoming poor Forgetting; memories

OCD OCD Perfectionists Trauma (death, divorce, abuse, loss of some kind)( , , , ) Depression Items are still useful Heredity (grew up in a hoarding home) Complex disorder/disease

Complex in NatureComplex in Nature You can’t force someone to clean up their

home unless they face eviction or receive a citation.

If you don’t address the issue the house will If you don t address the issue the house will return to it’s hoarding state.

The hoarder must seek help such as therapy,The hoarder must seek help such as therapy, counseling, or medication.

The psychological disorder causes hoarding

Case #1Case #1Ms. Smith’s ex-husband had verbally abused her during their 6 years of marriage. Once she left the marriage she moved into an apartment by herself. She was depressed and constantly shopped to help lift her spirits. She wouldand constantly shopped to help lift her spirits. She would take home office supplies, makeup, new clothing, etc. and throw the bags into her apartment.

By the time we were hired by Ms. Smith (she was seeing a psychologist) her apartment was completely filledpsychologist) her apartment was completely filled.

She slept and ate in her car and showered at the club.p

Case #1 ContinuedCase #1 ContinuedPaxem didn’t judge her. We told her we would help her get her life back We threw away about 10 dumpsters worth ofher life back. We threw away about 10 dumpsters worth of garbage and donated thousands of useful items. The items she couldn’t part with we stored in clear containers so she could see what she owned so she didn’t need to buy more.could see what she owned so she didn t need to buy more.

We taught her how to keep her apartment neater and she later hired us to move her to a new apartment Withlater hired us to move her to a new apartment. With treatment she was able to move forward with her life and knew to seek help when she had hoarding urges. She is living independently and needed no further assistance from g p yPaxem.

We were NOT allowed to take photographs.We were NOT allowed to take photographs.

Case #2Case #2Linda M. an older adult was living in a senior gapartment. She was going to be evicted due to the poor upkeep of her apartment. She was disabled and needed help to clean it upneeded help to clean it up.

The following picture is of the kitchen that representsThe following picture is of the kitchen that represents what the whole apartment looked like.

Before clean out

After clean out

Case #3Case #3Sandy H. was a young professional working downtown y y g gand living it up. She worked hard, went out often and couldn’t seem to keep her house in order. She has never had anyone over to the house and asked us ifnever had anyone over to the house and asked us if we could help her so she could have friends over.

She was embarrassed to have us there but knew she needed help. She was very emotional and cried when we viewed her home. We helped her remove two truckloads of garbage and donated what we could.

Case #3 ContinuedCase #3 ContinuedThere are many more pictures – different rooms same ychaos.

W l d t th l tt i 2 d WhWe cleared out the clutter in 2 days. When we were through Sandy was excited and invited her friends over for an evening at her house.for an evening at her house.

She had a new perspective on life and wanted to enjoy S e ad a e pe spec e o e a d a ed o e joyher home as well as her friends.

Case #4Case #4Animal Hoarding:Client had 4 dogs, 1 bird and 6 cats in a very small apartment. She let them urinate and defecate wherever they wanted Paxem was hired to help with the “organizing”they wanted. Paxem was hired to help with the organizing of the home because she still was living out of boxes.

We only organized. We were not allowed to throw away any items and the animals were roaming freely while organizing One dog was vicious and the client kept it on aorganizing. One dog was vicious and the client kept it on a leash next to her so it wouldn’t bite us. She wouldn’t admit she had an issue, wouldn’t seek help and was evicted 6 months later.

Case #5Case #5Mental Illness:Client had cats – we don’t know how many. The client lived in a condo for years without cleaning. She was

l h li d did ’t ti th bl d han alcoholic and didn’t notice the problems around her. She was forcibly removed to a hospital. We were hired by her niece to do the clean out.by her niece to do the clean out.

Family Room Master Bedroom

Kitchen

Living Room

Dining Room

Service OrganizationsService Organizations Wellness check Wellness check Elder abuse report Township or senior center Township or senior center www.challengingdisorganization.org humanel@aspca.org or www.ASPCA.orghumanel@aspca.org or www.ASPCA.org Home owner’s association

Illinois General Assembly Elder Ab se & Neglect ActElder Abuse & Neglect Act

The Elder Abuse and Neglect Act. Provides that "self-neglect" includesThe Elder Abuse and Neglect Act. Provides that self neglect includes compulsive hoarding, which is characterized by the acquisition of, and unwillingness or inability to discard, large quantities of seemingly useless objects that create a significantly cluttered living space and cause considerable distress or impairment in functioning.

Provides that the Department on Aging's program of services forProvides that the Department on Aging s program of services for persons age 60 or older shall include the following services for eligible adults who have been removed from their residences for the purpose of cleanup or repairs: temporary housing; counseling; and caseworker p p p y g; g;services to try to ensure that the conditions necessitating the removal do not reoccur.

Illinois General Assembly Elder Ab se & Neglect ActElder Abuse & Neglect Act

Senate Committee Amendment No. 1Senate Committee Amendment No. 1Provides that "self-neglect" includes compulsive hoarding, which is characterized by the acquisition and retention of large quantities of items and materials that produce an extensively cluttered living space, which significantly impairs the performance of essential self-care tasks or otherwise substantially threatens life or safety (instead of which is characterized by the acquisition of, and unwillingness or inability to discard, large quantities of seemingly useless objects that create a significantly cluttered living space and cause considerable distress or impairment in functioning).

Effective Date August 18, 2009

Coping StrategiesCoping Strategies When you discuss the issues with the hoarderWhen you discuss the issues with the hoarder

don’t point blame, accuse, belittle or push. They will pull back and you won’t be able to help.U d f ll d k h t d t Use words carefully and ask what you can do to help.

Start with items that aren’t as emotionallyStart with items that aren t as emotionally connected to the hoarder.

If the hoarder will not accept help you need to call f h lfor help.

Redirect attention to other activities

MaintenanceMaintenance• Minimize spacial options• Look for patterns of behavior• Help change their outlook, improve their

self worth• Be creative and negotiate • Remove unnecessary items immediately• Ongoing therapy and psychiatry • Ongoing organizing & de-cluttering• Build relationships

Maintenance ContinuedMaintenance Continued…• Maintain respect for client• Empathize with their issues but don’t

become part of the problem• The client should always be included in

decision-making• Watch for signs of old behaviors

Thank you!

Jennifer PrellPaxem IncPaxem, Inc.

847-829-4437Pwww.Paxem.com