How To Help Elderly Parents With Hoarding

1. Start cleanup with small steps.
2. Let your elderly parent have a say in what stays and what goes, but don’t keep everything.
3. Provide emotional support.
4. Never blindly throw things away – this could cause a serious rift between you and your parent.

How do you treat elderly hoarders?

Psychotherapy, also called talk therapy, is the primary treatment. Cognitive behavioral therapy is the most common form of psychotherapy used to treat hoarding disorder. Try to find a therapist or other mental health professional with experience in treating hoarding disorder.

How do you deal with a parent who is a hoarder?

How to Help Parents Who Are Hoarders

1. It is important to talk with your parent(s).
2. Express how you feel in an honest but polite manner.
3. Explain to them the dangers involved in hoarding in order to reveal how serious the situation is.
4. Consider your parents’ perspective.

Is hoarding elder abuse?

As a protected class under state and federal laws, older adults must be protected from abuse or neglect which may result from hoarding disorder. Elder protective service agencies must protect older adults and can be contacted for information about state-specific laws and regulations.

What stage of dementia is hoarding?

Hoarding for a person with dementia may be more likely to happen in the early and middle stages of dementia and often stems from trying to have some control in their lives. People with dementia may be driven to search or rummage for something that they believe is missing.

What is the root cause of hoarding?

Hoarding is a severe psychological disorder where a person gathers an excessive number of items and stores them. The reasons someone become a hoarder include altered brain connections, genetics, stress, OCD, environmental factors and altered levels of serotonin.

How do you help hoarders let go?

You can, however, provide a supportive environment that encourages your loved one to seek help and makes recovery possible.

1. Don’t Take Their Possessions.
2. Don’t Enable the Behavior.
3. Educate Yourself.
4. Recognize Small Victories.
5. Help Them Sort Their Belongings.
6. Don’t Clean Up for Them.
7. Help Your Loved One Find Treatment.

What is the fastest way to clean a hoarder’s house?

6 Easy Steps For Cleaning A Hoarder House

1. STEP 1: Clear out the Trash.
2. STEP 2: Clean and sanitize your floors.
3. STEP 3: Disinfect everything.
4. STEP 4: Scrub down the bathroom.
5. STEP 5: Deodorize.
6. STEP 6: Don’t forget the small stuff.

How do you help a hoarding parent who doesn’t want help?

Hoarding Cleanup: How to Help a Hoarder in Denial

1. Use Love – First of all, let them know that you care about them.
2. Listen – Don’t start an argument or become confrontational.
3. Ask Questions – During this conversation, don’t tell the hoarder what the problem is with their behavior.

What are the personality traits of a hoarder?

Personality Traits Associated with Hoarding Compulsive hoarders may have negative personality traits that include avoidance, anxiety, indecisiveness, perfectionism and poor socialization skills. Researchers have found that the activity levels in the brains of compulsive hoarders differ from that of non-hoarders.

How do I report an elderly hoarder?

Landlines in Contra Costa, call toll free (877) 839-4347. Cell Phones or outside Contra Costa, call (925) 602-4179.

Can you report someone for hoarding?

You can report the property to the housing authority or comparable local Southern California governmental agency charged with enforcing housing codes. In addition to seeking enforcement of the housing code, a hoarding situation at a neighbor’s residence may also give rise to fire code violations.

Who to contact about hoarding?

We can also answer many questions you 1-800-HOARDERS (800-462-7337) may have. The best advice is to start by calling our 24 hour helpline so that we can get you and your loved one the help that they need.

Why do old people collect so much stuff?

Elderly people may say they compulsively collect all that “stuff” because they believe that an item will be useful or valuable in the future. Or they may claim things are unique, hold sentimental value, or are irreplaceable.

What is Sundowning behavior?

Answer From Jonathan Graff-Radford, M.D. The term “sundowning” refers to a state of confusion occurring in the late afternoon and spanning into the night. Sundowning can cause a variety of behaviors, such as confusion, anxiety, aggression or ignoring directions.