Q&A: Dealing with Hoarding Behavior

Question:

My mother needs home care, but I think she might be a hoarder. Can Partners in Care still help her? 

Answer

Yes. Hoarding is a debilitating behavior that displays itself in extremely cluttered countertops, tables, sofas and beds. Hoarders often cover every available surface with old newspapers, personal items, dishes or trash to the point where entire rooms become unusable. Hoarding is a serious disorder that occurs in people who have no cognitive problems, but it also occurs in those with dementia. It’s important not to write your mom off as a “pack rat” because she is still as sharp as a tack. If you think your loved one might be a hoarder call in an expert immediately. Don’t try to take on the issue alone.

Leo Vaz, a social worker at Partners in Care, says that people who exhibit hoarding behavior are usually either oblivious to the problem or resistant to getting help when loved ones bring it up. “The difficult task of discarding items is associated with a sense of loss, fear of emptiness and abandonment,” he says. “Forcing hoarders to discard their items may be unproductive because in short-time, they start to accumulate items again, not to mention the emotional distress created during the cleaning up process.”

Hoarding is a very serious problem, but it is treatable. If you think your loved one might be a hoarder, Partners in Care will send someone to visit the home first, then work with you and your loved one to develop a plan. Because the root of hoarding is emotional (it's often due to depression and anxiety), helping loved ones may involve behavioral health services, like counseling and support groups, as well as extensive cleaning and ordering of the home environment.