Tackle Hoarding with Compassion: Strategies to Help Seniors

Cluttered spaces, unsanitary conditions, and social isolation make for a potent mix that often leads to hoarding, especially in older adults. If your aging loved one struggles with hoarding tendencies, sometimes starting the conversation can be an obstacle of its own. However, you can use the following strategies to help address hoarding and work toward improving your aging loved one’s quality of life.

5 Strategies to Address Hoarding in Senior Loved Ones

Whether you’ve broached the topic of hoarding with your aging loved one or are unsure how to do so, these strategies can help you reach common ground and work toward a solution together. Remember that hoarding is an ongoing conversation, so patience and time are key.

1. Talk to a Physician

Consulting with your loved one’s physician can help you learn more about what underlying issues may be driving their hoarding tendencies. These behaviors often stem from an inability to get rid of possessions, regardless of their value, but may go deeper. Doctors may advise having a conversation with your loved one present or referring you both to a psychiatrist for further treatment.

2. Find a Support System

Support systems are critical for both you and your aging loved one. Finding a group of people who have also dealt with family members who struggle with hoarding can help you share experiences and tips. A support system for your senior loved one can also help them socialize and start making new friends.

3. Establish a Goal and Celebrate Progress

When it comes to hoarding, the best approach is to think of it as a marathon, not a sprint. Establishing small goals in the beginning — and monitoring and celebrating progress — will help keep your senior loved one oriented. Creating a physical progress marker can also help your loved one realize their progress.

4. Increase Your Involvement

Becoming your loved one’s accountability partner often requires spending more time with them, checking in to ensure they’re staying on task and working toward their goals. Like anyone working toward an achievement, they may need encouragement when their confidence is low. However, it’s essential to ensure you balance your own responsibilities with providing support.

5. Don’t Overlook the Person for the Possessions

Many people approach hoarding as a problem that requires a swift and immediate solution. However, trading an opportunity to make progress with an individual with hoarding tendencies for a clean and sanitary home can actually set them back. It’s important to not only address the root cause but also infuse your assistance with compassion and care above all else.

Establishing a Safe Space for Aging in Place With Visiting Angels

Hoarding can be a challenging topic to discuss with your aging loved one, but the conversations only get harder. Visiting Angels of Webster helps connect families with resources they can use to connect with senior loved ones to improve their relationships and encourage a higher quality of life. Here are a few recent examples from our blog:

If you’d like to learn more about how Visiting Angels of Webster can help your aging loved one, contact us to schedule a free consultation. Our caring and compassionate staff welcome the opportunity to meet with you and your senior loved one to discuss their needs and craft a personalized care plan. We offer numerous services that remain flexible as your aging loved one’s needs change.

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