Collecting vs. Hoarding: What Families Should Know in Senior Care

KFF Health News, a national health newsroom, recently reported that hoarding was a serious issue, impacting around 2.5% of the US population. These numbers are higher even than mental health issues like schizophrenia, so why is it so prevalent in seniors, and what is the difference between collecting vs. hoarding, so you know what to recognize?

With the help of Greenwood Place, discover ways to implement an intervention and resolve the issue that is both effective and respectful. Greenwood Place, located in Marietta, GA, sits among lush trees, offering a chance to avoid an overwhelming indoor space.

These practical caregiver support tips include:

• Clear communication
• Leveraging Greenwood Place's tailored memory programs
• Empowering both yourself and our caregivers
• Increasing safety in the home
• Being memory-aware during support efforts

So, keep reading to get the caregiver support tips and senior home safety guidelines that will help your family not only live life, but thrive. Ensure the safety and security of your loved one today.

Distinguishing Collecting vs. Hoarding

While these two things can be similar, there are distinct differences. However, to many who don't recognize which is which, they can both look identical. The following are ways in which they differ:

For example, people tend to define collection habits as:

• Retaining things because they serve a purpose or a hobby
• Keeping things in an organized or grouped fashion
• Avoiding the collection overtaking a living space

On the other hand, hoarding is:

• Holding onto things "just in case"
• Going beyond established limits, such as ease of moving around
• Repeatedly acquiring new things without clearly sorting them
• Overcrowded living spaces that impact personal autonomy
• Anxiety or lapses in memory trigger the habit

Collecting is a widespread activity among seniors and allows them to engage in an interest without it requiring physical activity, something they may not be able to undertake at their age. As such, try to avoid causing someone to feel as though you are attacking them for what is a hobby.

If you are unsure of the difference, talk to the staff at Greenwood Place, who have experience in dealing with issues like these.

As the visual order of a well-kept collection creates a sense of control, it can also help those seniors who feel they do not have agency in other areas of their lives, such as regarding their wellness. Strong signs of it being an organized effort include using shelves, bins, or boxes to keep things in, labeling them clearly, and keeping them in groups for easy access.

However, disorganized clutter, a significant sign of hoarding, often includes trash or random objects mixed with other discarded items they may claim to be collecting. It rarely triggers enjoyment or nostalgia, such as keeping a few holiday cards, and is instead potentially a sign of fear of loss.

Recognizing Senior Hoarding Risks

Hoarding behavior in aging is not merely a quirk. It can have significant and long-term repercussions.

For example, the EPA notes that most people spend around 90% of their time indoors. Despite many participating in outdoor activities, it can be even more challenging for many seniors due to a lack of mobility. Staying indoors among such clutter can cause respiratory issues as mold or other pathogens form in discarded items.

It can also:

• Increase the risk of fire
• Cause electrical shorts
• Make slips or trips much more likely
• Cause damage to the household or sentimental items
• Attract rodent or insect infestations
• Trigger muscle issues as retrieving items requires overreaching

However, the habit can be difficult to curb, as even seniors with early signs of dementia can start to repeat rituals that lead to acquiring too many items, believing they are valuable to them. Seniors with Alzheimer's may also forget why they discarded the items before, and memory lapses may cause them to buy or scavenge items to replace "lost" possessions, or own them "just in case", more often.

Finally, as emotional memories sometimes tie to objects, or even groups of objects, it can make it hard to help someone part with the hoarded belongings. Understanding these triggers can help you assist seniors in letting go of items, even slowly.

Ensuring Senior Home Safety in Marietta

Everyday decluttering habits can help in some cases of hoarding, such as using the Marie Kondo approach of going through items one at a time and deciding if the object "brings you joy". However, they will not always work, especially in extreme cases where emotional triggers are tied more heavily to memory-related habits such as hoarding.

As such, the first thing you may need to do is simply ensure that your loved one is safe while you handle the rest of the issue. Fortunately, the CDC offers a few resources, including a simple fall reduction kit to help you offset the physical danger of hoards.

Greenwood Place also features especially wide hallways to accommodate easier movement, as well as non-slip flooring and lighting that ensures your loved one can easily see around them as they navigate their living space.

Housekeeping in our community also prevents clutter buildup in private apartments, with respect to items that the senior wishes to keep for specific reasons. Our staff also have training to catch hazards before they endanger residents.

Meanwhile, we can offer support, including:

• Empathy with difficult senior emotions
• Active listening when communicating
• Providing visual cues in a room to help with organization
• Leveraging motivational techniques to help with difficult changes

Respectful intervention strategies include inviting seniors to participate in decision-making related to cleanup. This preserves their autonomy, avoiding resistance and reducing the likelihood of potential mental health triggers.

Our memory care program is also structured to help seniors develop better habits and avoid urges such as collecting. Our staff can then work to address underlying anxiety and other issues that fuel hoarding long-term.

Empower Your Loved One's Mental Health

It's crucial that you distinguish healthy collecting vs. hoarding and its many safety and mental health risks. Fortunately, the safety standards and supporting environment of Greenwood Place can offer a way for your loved one to reduce and potentially overcome any hoarding tendencies.

If you want to learn more about our memory care programs, professional guidance, and the other amenities we offer, book a tour. Let us help your loved one, one step at a time.