Overcoming Hoarding Disorder as an Aging Adult
Hoarding disorder, especially among seniors, is a complex and challenging condition. The implications go beyond a cluttered home. Over time, the condition can impact physical health, emotional well-being, and quality of life.
The prevalence is concerning, too, with 1.6 to 6 percent of the population struggling with hoarding disorder. According to Psychology Today, 1 in 40 people are hoarders, with both genders being equally affected.
However, age is usually a factor causing people to accumulate stuff. For aging adults, such material possessions may represent memories, comfort, or safety. Eventually, unchecked hoarding can endanger health and independence. Therefore, the need to overcome the mindset sooner rather than later is profound.
Here are a few things aging adults can do to avoid and overcome this habit.
Accept the Problem
The first crucial step is acknowledging that hoarding is a serious mental health condition, not a personal failing. According to Mind, many people confuse hoarding with collecting, but both are different. Collecting normally is about being selective, but hoarding is not. Moreover, people who hoard stuff fall short of organizing their belongings.
Besides understanding the situation, you must also dig deep into the root cause. Many older adults develop hoarding tendencies as a coping mechanism for life changes, grief, or anxiety. For example, retaining the belongings of a partner after they pass away seems like normal behavior. However, it may quickly become a habit to accumulate everything.
Acceptance opens the door to change and makes it easier to reach out for help, instead of hiding or making excuses. Seniors often hesitate to talk about the issue because they don’t think it deserves attention.
Seek Professional Help
Like any mental health issue, hoarding disorder requires professional assessment and treatment. Effective treatment almost always involves the support of professionals. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), for example, teaches individuals to make better decisions about possessions, reorganize their living space, and gradually discard unnecessary items.
In some cases, medication may be prescribed for co-occurring conditions such as anxiety or depression. Counselors can help address underlying emotional triggers. Mental health counseling is among the best social service jobs in the US, notes St. Bonaventure University. For this reason, more and more people are adopting this profession.
The mental health counseling degree online is easy to pursue, making the role accessible to professionals. You can also hire a professional organizer to help with the practical aspects. Organizers provide hands-on help with decluttering, but progress must be led by the individual.
Set Realistic Goals
According to Number Analytics, breaking the cycle of hoarding requires a strategic approach. Before starting the journey, you must prepare for the change. Assessing readiness and being committed give you a good start. Also, understand that breaking the cycle requires patience and persistence.
Set small, achievable goals instead of aiming for a complete transformation overnight. For seniors, progress may mean parting with a single stack of newspapers or clearing one corner of a room. Focus on low-stakes items first, as they are relatively easier to part with compared to things you are attached to.
Once you develop the habit of decluttering, maintaining momentum over time becomes easy. Also, celebrate these victories, no matter how minor, to encourage ongoing improvement. Track milestones and reward progress, not perfection.
Practice Mindfulness
According to Verywell Mind, clutter and mental health share a deep connection. When you have too much stuff, you may feel stressed and anxious. Over time, it can also affect your ability to function in your daily routine. Seniors may suffer even more as age-related challenges push them to the edge.
Mindfulness can help older adults manage the anxiety and emotional attachments that fuel hoarding. It also enables them to cope with the feeling of loss and stress they come across when eliminating clutter they may have accumulated.
Techniques like deep breathing, meditation, and guided imagery can reduce stress and increase resilience to change. Mindfulness also encourages present-moment awareness. With this, individuals can distinguish between genuine needs and compulsive urges to save.
Build a Support System
Social support is critical to recovery for aging adults struggling with hoarding disorder. Many seniors with these tendencies feel isolated due to embarrassment, shame, or fear of judgment. Engaging family, friends, or support groups provides encouragement, practical help, and accountability.
Consider inviting a trusted loved one to help sort and discard items. Just having someone around will make it easy to justify your decluttering project. You can even find a local support group that has members going through the same situation. Attend group meetings, either in person or online.
Hotlines or helplines are available for immediate support. Knowing that you are not alone makes recovery easy. When people share experiences and achievements, they inspire you to overcome your struggles.
FAQs
What are the hazards of hoarding disorder?
Hoarding disorder can cause several hazards, particularly for aging adults. The accumulated clutter can be a risk factor for trips and falls in your home. Fire hazards are common, as accumulated items can ignite easily and block exits. Sanitation issues and pest infestations from cluttered kitchens and bathrooms are possible.
What are the early signs of hoarding disorder?
Early signs of hoarding disorder develop gradually and can be missed until the problem escalates. A person may consistently acquire more items than needed and find it hard to discard possessions, regardless of their value. Other signs are emotional distress, social withdrawal, indecisiveness, procrastination, and organizational challenges.
How to help someone struggling with a hoarding disorder?
Helping someone with a hoarding disorder requires patience, empathy, and understanding. Start by getting awareness regarding the issue, as it will help you be non-judgmental. Listen and empathize, offer emotional support, and avoid criticism. Set reasonable expectations for progress and offer practical help to clear clutter.
Overcoming hoarding disorder as an aging adult might seem like a big challenge. However, it is possible with the right mindset, commitment, and patience. Also, seek professional help without hesitation if you find recovery challenging. Progress may be slow, but each step forward leads to greater safety, better health, and renewed independence.
