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If you have a family member who accumulates items to the point where they are unable to walk through their home safely, cannot manage their medication, and has poor sanitation, they may have a hoarding disorder. Although it can affect people of any age, older adults who are isolated, lonely, and suffering from cognitive decline are at a much higher risk of developing this mental health condition. Critically, there are a few things you can do to help your loved one overcome hoarding disorder, including encouraging them to create a comprehensive estate plan.
What is Hoarding Disorder?
Hoarding disorder is a mental health condition that is characterized by the inability to part with possessions, resulting in an excessive accumulation of items that often have no need or purpose. In severe cases, it can significantly impact a person’s physical and mental health, as well as their ability to function. Notably, hoarding is distinct from collecting, where the possessions are typically well-organized.
Identifying Hoarding Disorder in a Loved One
According to the American Psychiatric Association, adults over the age of 60 have a higher rate of hoarding disorder, while the behavior can begin early in life, it becomes more severe with each decade. Often, those with hoarding disorders also have another mental disorder diagnosis, such as depression, anxiety, ADHD, or alcohol use disorder. In these cases, hoarding can help to make the person feel more secure.
Symptoms of hoarding disorder can include:
- Persistent difficulty parting with items, even if they do not have value
- A perceived need to save items
- Congested and cluttered living areas
- Distress associated with throwing away items
- Saving the items interferes with work, family, and social life
While the cause is not medically known, there can be a variety of reasons older adults may develop a hoarding disorder. For instance, they may have experienced a stressful event or lost a loved one and developed a strong emotional attachment to certain items. This disorder has also been associated with information processing deficits, cognitive decline, and dementia. Cognitive impairments can make it harder for older adults to make decisions about discarding their belongings, staying organized, and dealing with clutter.
Ways to Help a Loved One with Hoarding Disorder
To help a loved one with a hoarding disorder, it’s essential to approach them with understanding and compassion. Rather than criticize or judge them, talk with them about how their hoarding impacts their life. Don’t enable them by offering to store the items, but instead, help with organizing the items at their own pace. You may also want to encourage them to attend a support group or seek professional treatment to overcome their challenges.
First and foremost, ensure the safety of your loved one. Hoarding can lead to blocked hallways and exits, resulting in accidents or fire hazards. Recognize your loved one’s attachment to the items and work with them to find safety solutions. It’s never a good idea to clean up or discard items without consent — this may only make them feel more anxious and overwhelmed.
While it can be frustrating to deal with hoarding disorder in a loved one, it’s important to understand that people with these behaviors are often socially isolated and lonely. Instead of focusing so much on the hoarding, focus on the person. Spend time with them and offer support. Take up a hobby together, enjoy a walk, or go for coffee. Simply being present can help make your loved one feel less alone and more connected.
How Creating an Estate Plan Can Help with Hoarding Disorder
Creating a comprehensive estate plan can help an individual with hoarding disorder in a number of ways. Although it can’t treat the underlying mental disorder, it can help your loved one put things into perspective. When a person inventories their property and places a value on each item, they can better make the decision whether to donate, discard, or bequeath it. Since those who hoard typically have emotional attachments to their possessions, an estate plan may help reduce your loved one’s stress since they know what will happen to the items.
Creating an estate plan can also facilitate communication with family members about the hoarding issues. When your loved one understands how their hoarding can affect their family, they may be motivated to make a positive change. For instance, by understanding how hoarding can complicate the distribution of their estate, your loved one may begin to give away some of their possessions while they are still living.
Cleaning up the home of a person with hoarding disorder can be costly. Sometimes, the home of a hoarder may be damaged as a result of the hoarding, which can impact the value of the property. In addition to the clutter from the hoarding, there may be mold, scratched floors, broken windows, structural damage, and health hazards. An estate plan can address the financial planning involved with removing the items, as well as repairing and cleaning the home before it will be sold. When a proper plan is in place to deal with the impact hoarding can have on the home, it can prevent substantial clean-up bills from depleting the overall value of the estate.
Contact an Experienced Michigan Estate Planning and Elder Law Attorney
If you have a family member who is facing a hoarding disorder, an estate planning and elder law attorney can offer resources and advice for any legal issues that arise in connection with hoarding. They can also work closely with your loved one to create an estate plan that ensures their wishes are met concerning the distribution of their property. To learn more about how you can support an older adult with overcoming hoarding disorder, contact us today. Our team of attorneys can help you explore your options regarding your loved one’s needs.
