““Too Much Stuff”Too Much Stuff”

HoardingHoarding

Obtaining materials, failure to discard, Obtaining materials, failure to discard, accumulation of a large number of accumulation of a large number of possessions.possessions.

Home is cluttered to the point where it Home is cluttered to the point where it becomes a safety hazard.becomes a safety hazard.

Emotional/physical distress caused by Emotional/physical distress caused by the large amount of accumulated the large amount of accumulated material.material.

Home is cluttered to the point where it is Home is cluttered to the point where it is impossible to maintain its intended use.impossible to maintain its intended use.

Only in the MediaOnly in the Media

A four month search for a missing A four month search for a missing women came to and end when her women came to and end when her husband found her corpse in their husband found her corpse in their home amid the labyrinth of squalor.home amid the labyrinth of squalor.

A hoarder was stuck in so much A hoarder was stuck in so much garbage and debris and junk that garbage and debris and junk that when she died, she had to be when she died, she had to be removed through a hole cut into the removed through a hole cut into the roof of the home. roof of the home.

Manifestations of HoardingManifestations of Hoarding Acquisition Acquisition

• Purchasing Purchasing • StealingStealing• Free ItemsFree Items

Saving Saving • Clothes, newspapers, Clothes, newspapers,

worthless, wornworthless, worn DisorganizationDisorganization

• ClutterClutter• Mixed ImportanceMixed Importance• Behavior Behavior

ChurningChurning Out of sight fear Out of sight fear

Attachments Attachments • Sentimental Sentimental • Instrumental to Instrumental to

their daily lifetheir daily life• Intrinsic valueIntrinsic value

DataData• 55-90 target 55-90 target

populationpopulation• Animal/Material Animal/Material

Animal HoardingAnimal Hoarding

Mostly femaleMostly female Mid 50’sMid 50’s SingleSingle Socially IsolatedSocially Isolated Mainly cats and Mainly cats and

dogsdogs Ascribe human Ascribe human

qualities to animals qualities to animals More closely More closely

attached to animals attached to animals than people than people

Health Issues Associated with Health Issues Associated with HoardingHoarding

Lack of SanitationLack of Sanitation• RodentsRodents• Transmission of communicable diseaseTransmission of communicable disease• Unfit for human habitationUnfit for human habitation

Safety IssuesSafety Issues• Blocked Entrance/ExitsBlocked Entrance/Exits• Fire Hazards (homeowner/safety forces)Fire Hazards (homeowner/safety forces)

Social IssueSocial Issue• Isolation from family societyIsolation from family society• Afraid to ask for helpAfraid to ask for help• They are aware of how others view their homeThey are aware of how others view their home

Cuyahoga County InitiativesCuyahoga County Initiatives

Local Task ForceLocal Task Force• Cuyahoga County Hoarding ConnectionCuyahoga County Hoarding Connection

Developing a comprehensive database utilizing Developing a comprehensive database utilizing nationally approved tools (Clutter Image Rating nationally approved tools (Clutter Image Rating Scale, Hoarding Rating Scale)Scale, Hoarding Rating Scale)

Developing a comprehensive database on existing Developing a comprehensive database on existing city ordinances on health & safety in the homecity ordinances on health & safety in the home

Working with communities already utilizing Standard Working with communities already utilizing Standard Operating Procedure (Parma) Operating Procedure (Parma)

Comprehensive educational outreach to those Comprehensive educational outreach to those community services impacted by the problemscommunity services impacted by the problems

Develop a resource database listing those Develop a resource database listing those organizations available to help with cleaning, follow-organizations available to help with cleaning, follow-up clinical treatment, manpower up clinical treatment, manpower

ConclusionsConclusions Hoarding disorder is common, chronic, and Hoarding disorder is common, chronic, and

debilitating for individuals and their family debilitating for individuals and their family membersmembers

Hoarding is unique biological, cognitive, Hoarding is unique biological, cognitive, emotional, and behavioral featuresemotional, and behavioral features

Traditional medications and treatments for OCD Traditional medications and treatments for OCD have not been very helpfulhave not been very helpful

Need to further improve treatment to reduce Need to further improve treatment to reduce overall impact and reduce clinical therapyoverall impact and reduce clinical therapy

Design specific models to increase opportunities Design specific models to increase opportunities for carefor care

Sometimes you need to move fast and clinical Sometimes you need to move fast and clinical intervention is not an option. intervention is not an option.

Do you remember when pain was Do you remember when pain was a symptom now it is a diseasea symptom now it is a disease

A GROWING A GROWING PROBLEMPROBLEM

CHANGES OVER CHANGES OVER TIME IN OHIOTIME IN OHIO

Prescription Drug Misuse, Abuse and Overdose: Prescription Drug Misuse, Abuse and Overdose: The Epidemic – Ohio The Epidemic – Ohio

14%

27%

21%

-14%

319%

-100% 0% 100% 200% 300% 400%

Firearm-Related

Homicide

Suicide

MV Traffic

Unintentional Overdose

Percentage Change in Number of Annual Deaths for Leading Causes of Injury in Ohio

(1999-2008)

1Source: Ohio Dept of Health, Office of Vital Statistics

1

In 2007, unintentional drug overdose became the In 2007, unintentional drug overdose became the leading cause of injury death in Ohio, surpassing motor leading cause of injury death in Ohio, surpassing motor vehicle crashes and suicide for the first time on record.vehicle crashes and suicide for the first time on record.

Prescription Drug Misuse, Abuse and Overdose: Prescription Drug Misuse, Abuse and Overdose: The Epidemic – Ohio The Epidemic – Ohio

*Source: ODH Office of Vital Statistics

Critical Key MessagesCritical Key Messages Prescription drugs are safe and effective when used Prescription drugs are safe and effective when used

as prescribed by a doctor but can be dangerous and as prescribed by a doctor but can be dangerous and even deadly when misused or abused.even deadly when misused or abused.

Prescription drug abuse is a significant problem in Prescription drug abuse is a significant problem in Ohio and can affect anyone, regardless of race or Ohio and can affect anyone, regardless of race or socioeconomic status.socioeconomic status.

Prescription drugs must be locked in a secure place Prescription drugs must be locked in a secure place when kept in the home and should be properly when kept in the home and should be properly disposed of when they are no longer needed.disposed of when they are no longer needed.

Seniors have become a prime target for those Seniors have become a prime target for those interested in obtaining prescription medications interested in obtaining prescription medications illegally. illegally.