Post on 06-Jan-2016
description
Elderly Hoarders: Beyond Reality Elderly Hoarders: Beyond Reality TelevisionTelevision
Georgia J. Anetzberger, PhD, ACSW, LISW
Definition of HoardingDefinition of Hoarding
a pattern of excessively collecting and saving useless things that
results in an inability to use living spaces for their intended purpose,
interferes with daily functioning, andcreates risk for the individual
Hoarding vs. Collecting vs. ClutteringHoarding vs. Collecting vs. Cluttering
Profile of Elderly HoardersProfile of Elderly Hoarders
femalemedian age mid-70sunmarriedhomeownerlives alonesocially isolated
Hoarder TraitsHoarder Traits
long term behavior lifestyle choice mentally competent indecisive perfectionist avoidance disorganized procrastination sentimental lacking insight
Commonly Hoarded ThingsCommonly Hoarded Things
printed informationcontainersclothingfooditems from someone’s trashanimals
Common Hoarding PlacesCommon Hoarding Places
living roomdining roombedroomhallwaybathroom
Potential Consequences of Potential Consequences of Hoarding for HoardersHoarding for Hoarders
embarrassment or shame avoiding having others into the home difficulty finding things conflict with family or neighbors over clutter limitations of movement or use of home health or safety risk eviction premature institutionalization
Hoarding TruthsHoarding Truths
It often runs in families.It may be associated with certain
mental disorders.It may be triggered by a traumatic
event.It isn’t common.It’s rarely reported.
Local Newspaper Headlines on Local Newspaper Headlines on Elderly HoardingElderly Hoarding
Loner’s death brings guilt pangsEast Cleveland police rescue woman,
85Woman found in condemned homeWoman living without electricity is
hurt in fire
A Focus on Animal HoardingA Focus on Animal Hoarding
Key Statistics
700-2,000 cases per year
46% age 60+
39 median number of animals
Distinct Features of Animal HoardingDistinct Features of Animal Hoardingmore than the usual number of companion
animals inability to provide even minimal
standards of:nutritionsanitationshelterveterinary care
denial of care inadequacies and their consequences
Commonly Hoarded AnimalsCommonly Hoarded Animals(in hierarchal order)(in hierarchal order)
catsdogsbirdssmall mammalsreptileshorsescattle, goats, or sheep
Recent Local Newspaper Articles on Recent Local Newspaper Articles on Elderly Animal HoardersElderly Animal Hoarders
Number and Type of Animal
30 miniature Dobermans 20 cats 92 cats 21 cats 30 dogs 18 cats 53 cats 50 cats
Age of Hoarder
74 72 74 80 86 64 90 71
Types of Animal HoardersTypes of Animal Hoarders
overwhelmed caregiverrescuer/saviorbreeder-hoarderexploiter-hoarder
Those Most Likely to Encounter Those Most Likely to Encounter Animal Hoarding SituationsAnimal Hoarding Situations
animal control officersadult protective services workerspolice officerssocial services workersmunicipal agency staffothers
Approaches for Addressing Approaches for Addressing HoardingHoarding
public health issuesocial problemself-neglect situationanimal rights concernmental health disordermedical syndrome
Barriers to Effective Intervention Barriers to Effective Intervention with Hoarderswith Hoarders
high hoarding recidivism rate hoarders refusing or restricting entry or help hoarders denying that they or their animals are suffering
due to hoarding no single agency responsible for hoarding lack of mandatory reporting of hoarding situations laws protecting residents from being ousted from their
homes clutter interfering with service delivery difficulty in getting the public to take hoarding cases
seriously
Legal Interventions with Legal Interventions with Hoarding: Various IntentsHoarding: Various Intents
protecting the hoarder adult protective services civil commitment guardianship
protecting the public health, safety, and housing codes
preventing cruelty humane treatment of animals
preserving the rights of hoarders fair housing
criminalizing hoarding no state law
Clinical Interventions with Clinical Interventions with Hoarders: What Has Been Found Hoarders: What Has Been Found
UsefulUseful
early recognition and introducing alternative behaviors
peer support groupsservice coordinationhoarding-specific community task
forcespartial hospitalization
medicationsbehavioral techniquescarefully defined successful outcomesuse of before and after photos
Scales for Assessing HoardingScales for Assessing Hoarding
Hoarding ScaleSavings Inventory RevisedSavings Cognition InventoryYale-Brown Compulsive Scale
Suggestions for Working with Suggestions for Working with HoardersHoarders
use a gentle approach let the person tell her/his own story treat the person with respect and dignityunderstand the meaning and attachment to
possessionsremain calm and factualoffer specific assistancegive the person a sense of control
refer for medical and mental health evaluation and other community resources
focus first on organizing possessions and very little on discarding them
later address more threatening issuesbe reassuring and go slowly involve the person in seeking solutionswork with other agencies and the person’s
family and friendsmaintain realistic expectations about the
hoarder’s ability to change