![\"\"](\"http:\/\/i77.photobucket.com\/albums\/j58\/COHDonna\/New%20Sub%20Album\/elder.jpg\")
\nVoices of family members and mental health professionals<\/p>\n
\nVoices of family members and mental health professionals<\/p>\n
Videos <\/strong><\/p>\n Articles<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/a><\/li>\n <\/a><\/li>\n <\/a><\/li>\n <\/p>\n Quote:<\/p>\n When a hoarder resists the idea of getting help, a family member may contact a therapist for guidance on effective methods of treatment. One such method is an intervention strategy, adapted by Fugen Neziroglu and colleagues from techniques used for substance abusers.<\/em><\/p>\n Family members meet with a therapist several times to learn more about hoarding and treatment options, who should be involved and what to say at an intervention, and how to prepare mentally for what may become an ordeal. They must have the conviction that they are doing the right thing because a hoarder cannot be helped if the family fears anger or consequences of an intervention. Often family members attend a practice session before the intervention takes place.<\/em><\/p>\n The goal of those at an intervention is to have the hoarder make one visit to an experienced therapist. At a prearranged time, family members approach the hoarder to talk about the effect of clutter on their lives and explain that help and support are available. Each person explains in a non-confrontational and non-judgmental manner why he or she is concerned. It is important that all participants speak with genuine care, but they make it clear that treatment is mandatory. Arrangements for treatment are usually made before an intervention takes place; ideally a session follows immediately.<\/em><\/p>\n Details of an intervention can vary: The consulting professional may or may not be present; it may take place in an office or a home; and the hoarder may or may not be made aware of the upcoming event.<\/em><\/p>\n Facing a cohesive group, a hoarder cannot hide or minimize the problem. Intervention is a big step in the right direction, but the hoarder and those involved have much work to do. The hoarder must commit to treatment, and family members must address personal issues and learn to handle issues that may come up as the treatment progresses<\/em>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/a><\/li>\n For families where animal hoarding is a problem:<\/strong><\/p>\n Book<\/strong> Powerpoint Presentations:<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Additional advice collected from various sources. The views, opinions and advice listed do not necessarily reflect the opinions and views of www.childrenofhoarders.com<\/a>:<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n What to do?<\/strong> But most hoarders won’t accept therapy, and none can be changed through force or reasoning. Hoarders are highly anxious people; collecting things decreases their anxiety, which, ironically, reinforces their compulsion because it makes them feel better. The best advice for families and neighbors is to understand the condition as best as possible and try to care about them.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Someone helping a hoarder, particularly when this is a family member, must be ready to work within the hoarder’s reality not his\/her own. That is, trying to apply normal logic endlessly, assuming that this person will ‘see the light’ if one simply keeps saying the same thing often enough, is likely simply to upset this person and prove, yet again that he or she is, at best, misunderstood, and at worst a hopeless freak.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n How do you help someone who resists getting help?<\/strong> Since de-cluttering is likely to be extremely stressful, it is important to provide emotional support and encourage open communication about the emotional difficulties experienced during de-cluttering. It may be useful to enlist the assistance of a professional, such as a social worker or psychologist, who has had experience in dealing with people who have hoarding problems.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/strong>How can you help a neighbor or relative who hoards? There is no quick solution. Caring friends must balance the hoarder’s right to privacy against the need to protect them, as well as the respect for freedom versus safety. Most hoarders are lucid enough to understand consent documents that would permit caregivers to step in, and the hoarders often refuse to sign away these rights.<\/p>\n The best approach seems to be slowly establishing a trusting relationship with the hoarder. Make regular home visits that do not immediately address the hoarding problem, but instead enable you to get to know the person and his or her interests. As the relationship grows, the hoarder may be more willing to accept simple offers of assistance. Be sensitive to the fact that the hoarder finds some security in the mess that surrounds him. If you begin clearing without his support, it will only accumulate again.<\/p>\n Some hoarders will not respond even to careful efforts to gain their confidence. They have grown suspicious of others, sometimes justifiably. Dementia often robs a person of her ability to relate to or trust anyone. In these cases, senior service or health care agencies may have to step in to protect the senior. As a friend, your role may become one of helping the senior consider various new care options and selecting the one best suited to his situation.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n While they have learned more about the syndrome, adult protective services officials and code enforcement officers acknowledge that they don\u2019t have the resources to provide the case management services that many hoarders need. And, they say, many people who hoard don\u2019t want help.<\/p>\n \u201cEven if we had all the resources in the world, you\u2019re dealing with individuals who might not be amenable to seeking help,\u201d says Debra Morrow, program manager for Sacramento County Adult Protective Services.<\/p>\n For those who do want to change, according to Graff and others, family or friends can help by getting them a diagnostic evaluation, driving them to appointments and prodding them to take the small steps needed to start clearing their clutter away.<\/p>\n \u201cIn the end, it\u2019s really hands-on assistance that they need,\u201d Graff says.<\/p>\n Helping Someone Who Hoards<\/strong><\/p>\n Experts who treat and work with people who hoard say it\u2019s best to: <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/strong>Although sometimes necessary, simply cleaning out the clutter does not solve the problem: The hoarder will only become intensely anxious and start to accumulate junk again. Legally, social service and community health agencies can do little without permission from the hoarder unless she is creating conditions that are dangerous or detrimental to public health.<\/p>\n What to do? <\/strong> <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP A PERSON YOU CARE ABOUT.<\/strong><\/p>\n INFORM YOURSELF AND TRY TO UNDERSTAND. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Helping a Hoarder <\/strong><\/p>\n Here are do’s and don’ts for intervention: <\/em><\/p>\n Don’t:<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n One of the main barriers to successful treatment of compulsive-hoarding is that hoarding creates few intrinsic motivations <\/strong>to change. People who hoard tend to view hoarding as reasonable and socially desirable. This is despite the negative effects it might have on their lives (Frost, Krause, & Steketee, 1996).<\/p>\n As a result, people with compulsive-hoarding problems are less likely to enter into and benefit from treatment (Baer, 1994; Ball, Baer, & Otto, 1996).<\/p>\n Loved ones can be immensely helpful by supporting the person’s efforts. This may include letting the person know that his actions are appreciated, commenting on improvements in clutter, even small ones, and empathizing with the person’s struggle using comments such as, “I know this is really hard for you, and I think you’re doing a great job.” Loved ones often think that part of their job should be to throw items away. We tend to minimize this aspect of their role. This is because we believe that people with hoarding problems can best overcome the problem by doing it themselves. Obviously, some items may be large or heavy, and the person will require some physical help carrying them out. But if the loved one finds that they are discarding items while the person with the hoarding problem sits and watches, it is likely that the clutter will begin to grow again as quickly as it was removed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n Those engaged in hoarding, or dealing with a family member who hoards<\/strong>, spoke about what had been helpful, not helpful, and what could be helpful to them regarding what and how services and supports were provided:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Does it lift my energy when I look at it or think about it? <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n What can I do if my family member or friend seems to have compulsive hoarding?<\/strong> While the use of logic and persuasion makes intuitive sense, it is usually not effective for motivating a person to recognize that he or she has compulsive hoarding and to work on the problem. This is because individuals with compulsive hoarding often have mixed feelings about the problem. For example, they may both feel safe and comfortable with their possessions while also feeling shame and embarrassment about their number or their inability to invite others into the home. Attempting to persuade the individual that he or she has too many things and that this is leading to any number of problems (e.g., social isolation, inability to find things, safety and health problems, etc.), usually leads him or her to argue for the opposite position, namely that there is no problem and that he or she is quite comfortable and safe in the home. Instead, raising a person\u2019s awareness and motivating him or her to work on the problem requires an approach in which the concerned family member or friend expresses empathy, elicits the perspective of the person with the problem, and helps him or her to articulate his or her values and goals. Buried in Treasures provides some guidelines for motivating change and Motivational Interviewing, Second Edition: Preparing People for Change, by William Miller and Stephen Rollnick describes in detail this approach to motivating change.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Where there is imminent danger to the person with hoarding or to others in the household and the person with compulsive hoarding is not willing or able to acknowledge this difficulty, it may be necessary for concerned family members and friends to seek outside help. Because compulsive hoarding often touches on many issues, such as mental health, personal safety, and protective issues, it is ideally handled by a coordinated effort among multiple agencies. Concerned family members or friends can find out if their area has a compulsive hoarding task force made up of multiple agencies. For areas without a compulsive hoarding task force, particular agencies can be contacted directly. If at-risk individuals are involved (i.e., children, elders, disabled people, and pets), the appropriate protective service can be contacted; where no at-risk individuals are involved, the local department of public health or the fire department can be contacted.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n For individuals with compulsive hoarding who are ready to work in the home and wish the help of family members or friends, the following can be helpful:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n In addition to the above recommendations, the following \u201cdon\u2019ts\u201d are suggested:<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Other individuals can also be of assistance in overcoming compulsive hoarding. Cognitive behavioral therapy tailored to this problem is effective. Therapists who are not familiar with this treatment can refer to Compulsive Hoarding and Acquiring. The Obsessive Compulsive Foundation maintains information on therapists across the country who treat obsessive compulsive disorder. To find therapists in your area, visit the OCF’s Online Information Desk<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n\n
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\nTreating People Who Hoard \u2014 What Works for Clients and Families<\/a>
\nBy Jennifer Van Pelt, MA
\nSocial Work Today
\nVol. 11 No. 3 P. 14<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n
\nRenae M. Reinardy, Psy.D., LP<\/li>\n
\nHelping Family Members Who Hoard<\/p>\n\n
\nFugen Neziroglu, Ph.D., ABBP, ADAA Member\/ Estee Acobas, M.A.
\nBio-Behavioral Institute\/Great Neck, New York<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n
\n65 Ways to start hoarding conversation<\/p>\n\n
\nDigging Out-Helping Your Loved One Manage Clutter, Hoarding\u00a0& Compulsive Acquiring
\n<\/strong>by Tamara Hart PhD., Michael Tompkins, PhD.
\nThis book gives manageable steps for helping your loved one make gradual and lasting change.<\/p>\n\n
\nHow To Talk To A Hoarder
\nhttps:\/\/www.masshousing.com\/portal\/server.pt\/gateway\/PTARGS_0_2_2738_0_0_18\/How_to_Talk_to_Someone_with_Hoarding_Problem.pdf <\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n
\nPresenter Presenter: Cristina Sorrentino, PhD, LCSW
\nBoston University School of Social Work
\nPowerpoint presentation presented in a pdf file<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\nTo open up a dialogue, consider showing them?…:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n
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\nPublic resources for helping hoarders are extremely limited. As long as they’re mentally competent and not harming themselves or others, no authority can force hoarders to change. If conditions become dire and extremely unsafe \u2014 housing-code violations, rodent infestations, for example \u2014 the health department may intervene and order eviction, but it’s rare. To find out what’s available in your community, contact your county’s Senior Information & Assistance Office. You can obtain the phone number from the Elder Locator Office at 800-677-1116,
\n800-677-1116-www.eldercare.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n
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\nFrequently, people with problematic hoarding behavior refuse help. It is tempting for concerned neighbors, friends and family to suggest that redundant articles are given away and useless ones thrown away. However, researchers have found that it is often more effective to focus on sorting possessions before suggesting removal of items. The de-cluttering process can be extremely slow and labor-intensive and is best accomplished if the person with the hoarding problem is able to maintain a sense of control. A few motivational techniques proven to be useful include:<\/p>\n\n\n
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\n\u2022 Encourage the person to get a thorough diagnostic evaluation. In some cases, people who hoard also have serious conditions such as Alzheimer\u2019s disease, dementia, schizophrenia or a personality disorder.
\n\u2022 Relay concerns independently to a psychiatrist or psychologist because the patient may not be forthcoming about the problem.
\n\u2022 Consider individual or group therapy by someone with experience in hoarding.
\n\u2022 Help the person get to therapy appointments on time and follow through with treatment. Those who treat hoarders say they are often late and distractible.
\n\u2022 Find a friend, relative, professional organizer or coach to help the patient begin removing his or her things rather than discarding items for the hoarder.
\n\u2022 Offer praise for small steps and know that it will take a long time to get rid of hoarded items.<\/p>\n\n
\nA lot depends on whether the hoarder wants to change. It’s important to find a good primary care physician, psychiatrist, or neurologist who can determine whether she has a medical or psychiatric disorder. A social service agency may be able to visit the home and assess risk. If the hoarder is safe and her basic needs are being met, she may accept treatment for an underlying illness. Elder services may provide the support she needs to make decisions, organize her possessions, and create a space to live and receive visitors. Family involvement and friendly visits can be a great help.
\n– Michael Craig Miller, M.D. Editor in Chief<\/p>\n\n
\nInform yourself to get a better understanding of the problem. Place the “mess” into it’s correct context and don’t simply assume this is the sign of a lazy person. Use this information to show them that help and treatments are available.<\/p>\n\n
\nDo:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n
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Hospitalize unless there is a clear plan for what this is to accomplish.<\/div>\n<\/li>\nForce interventions.<\/div>\n<\/li>\nBe critical or judgmental about the hoarder’s environment.<\/div>\n<\/li>\nUse the hoarder’s first name unless he\/she gives permission.<\/div>\n<\/li>\nPress the hoarder for information that appears to make him\/her uncomfortable.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n
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\nDo I absolutely love it?
\nIs it genuinely useful?
\nHow much space am I willing to give up for it?
\nWhat is enough? Defining what is enough = just the right amount.
\nDoes this object enhance my life?
\nWhat’s the worst thing that could happen if I got rid of it?
\nAre there legal implications for holding onto it? I
\nf I got rid of it and discovered that I needed or wanted it later, could I replace it?
\nWhen was the last time I used it or wore it?
\nDoes it work? If not, do I intend to fix it? If so, when?
\nDo I like it?
\nFor clothes: Does it fit? Do you have occasion to wear it? Do I have something matching to go with it (for a shirt, pants, skirt, etc.)?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
Taking pictures before clean up and after clean up didn\u2019t help<\/strong>one<\/strong> individual;<\/div>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
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\nIndividuals who hoard often do not recognize that their behavior is problematic or do not view it as problematic as others do. Change cannot be imposed and raising a person\u2019s awareness of the problem often requires time and patience on the part of others.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
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