Director's Message
Hoarding December 2005Hoarding December 2005
Last Spring I attended a day-long intensive workshop on hoarding at the National Conference on Aging. Hoarding is “the collection and retention of things or animals until they interfere with day-to-day functions such as home, health, family, work and social life. Severe hoarding causes safety and health hazards. (Hoarding Fact Sheet, LA County Dept. of Mental Health). I came away from the conference with a deeper understanding of the issue, and a commitment to starting a Hoarding Task Force in our community. This fall we had our first meeting.
Hoarding is at the end of a continuum that starts with collecting and clutter. It is often a hidden problem, as hoarders generally don’t let others into their homes. Some are embarrassed by the clutter, others strongly defend their right to privacy and self-determination.
A number of things may contribute to hoarding, including attention deficit disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder and a family history of hoarding. For older adults, contributing factors may also include living through the lean times of the depression and World War II, a lifetime of accumulating treasures, trying to fit them all into a smaller space, and difficulty cleaning and carrying out the trash. Usually it is a problem that grows over an extended period of time.
Concerns arise when hoarding causes health and safety hazards. These include having so much in the home that one cannot safely navigate through the home or emergency personnel can not get into the home. Perishable food may accumulate, attracting pests. Paper may accumulate near stove, lamps, radiators or furnace, causing fire hazards. Kitchen and bath may become so cluttered that the resident cannot cook, bathe or use the toilet. They may not be able to sleep in the bed or have a free chair for a guest. Pets may multiply, leaving waste and hair. Trash may accumulate in the yard, attracting vermin and affecting neighbors.
Any one of several agencies may be the first to learn of a hoarding problem. The goal of the Task Force is to improve communication and collaborations between social services, fire, health, medical, police, and animal control to improve outcomes and utilize all the available resources to reestablish health and safety.
There are resources and strategies available to help someone who has gotten into difficulty with hoarding. If you would like to learn more about this topic, come to the Brown Bag Seminar on December 16 at 12:00. Susan W. Hoskins LCSWExecutive Director |
Previous MessagesJune 2013 - Age Friendly Communities June 2013 - Age Friendly Communities May 2013 - Navigating a Changing HealthCare Landscape March 2013 - Navigating Life’s Transitions February 2013 - Partners in Caring Princeton January 2013 - Men as Caregivers December 2012 - The Safety Net October 2012 - Documenting Your History September 2012 - A Journey of Transformation July - August 2012 - Gratitude & Moving March 2012 - Patient-centered Care February 2012 - Can you Spare an Hour? January 2012 - Challenges & Opportunities December - Are you Prepared for Emergencies? October - Chocolate for Memory September- Looking Back and Looking Forward Lessons and Legacies, March 2011 Independent Living February 2011 Witness to my Life December 2010 Elections, benefits and open enrollment November 2010 Strategic Planning September 2010 Hiring Home Care December 2009 Annual Giving by Sharon Naeole November 2009 Flu Pandemic 2009 October 2009 Healthy Memory, Healthy Mind September 2009 A Personal Perspective on Caregiving July/August 2009 Wei Ji: Crisis, Danger and Opportunity April 2009 Write your own obituary March 2009 Hope and Vision in Challenging Times Medicare Changes 2008: Take A Look! December 2008 Scams, Frauds and Rip-offs November 2008 Engaged Retirement: Beyond Financial Planning October 2008 September 2008 Caregiver Dilemmas Finding Rhythm and Purpose July/August 2008 V + OA = ER (Volunteering + Older Americans=Engaged Retirement)May 2008 Have You Had the Talk Yet? March 2008 Get Moving with FitRhythms™! February 2008 What Are Social Services? November 2007 Plan for the Future September 2007 The Up-side of Aging Summer 2007 National Conference on Aging: Let's ReThink Aging April 2007 Season of Giving December 2006 April Hill McElroy October 2006 Civic Engagement September 2006 White House Conference on Aging May 2006 Are You Prepared? October 2005 Watch Your Language September 2005 The End of the Journey May 2005 New Dietary Guidelines February 2005 Civic Engagement with GrandPals October 2004 The Challenge of Giving Care May 2004 Seniors On The Move April 2004 Random Acts of Kindness December 2003 Civic Engagement November 2003 |