Use This Checklist to Help You Decide
Although at Clutter&Hoarding Pros™ we work with families, friends, and fiduciaries in clearing and remediating the hoarded estates of deceased or re-homed hoarders, we also get many calls from worried relatives asking us how they can tell whether a friend or loved one is a truly hoarder or just has a bit too much "stuff."
If you suspect that a friend or family member is a hoarder, you can take this simple questionnaire to be sure. [We have reformatted it to fit into the blog space.] The HOMES® Multi-disciplinary Hoarding Risk Assessment was developed by Christiana Bratiotis, PhD, MSW, who has worked in the field of help for hoarders for well over a decade and has co-authored The Hoarding Handbook, A Guide for Human Service Professionals.
HOMES® Multi-disciplinary Hoarding Risk Assessment
Health Cannot use bathtub/shower Cannot prepare food Presence of spoiled food Presence of insects/rodents Cannot access toilet Cannot sleep in bed Presence of feces/urine (human or animal) Presence of mold or chronic dampness Garbage/trash overflow Cannot use stove/fridge/sink Cannot locate medications or equipment Notes:________________________________________________________________ Obstacles Cannot move freely/safely in home Unstable piles/avalanche risk Inability for EMT to enter/gain access Egresses, exits or vents blocked or unusable Notes:_________________________________________________________________ Mental health (Note that this is not a clinical diagnosis; use only to identify risk factors) Does not seem to understand seriousness of problem Defensive or angry Unaware, not alert, or confused Does not seem to accept likely consequence of problem Anxious or apprehensive Notes:_________________________________________________________________ Endangerment (evaluate threat based on other sections with attention to specific populations listed below) Threat to health or safety of child/minor Threat to health or safety of person with disability Threat to health or safety of older adult Threat to health or safety of animal Notes:________________________________________________________________ Structure & Safety Unstable floorboards/stairs/porch Leaking roof Electrical wires/cords exposed No running water/plumbing problems Flammable items beside heat source Caving walls No heat/electricity Blocked/unsafe electric heater or vents Storage of hazardous materials/weapons Notes:_________________________________________________________________ Household Composition # of Adults _____________ # of Children __________ # and kinds of Pets ________________________________________________ Ages of adults: __________________________ Ages of children: ______________________ Person who smokes in home Yes No Person(s) with physical disability____________________________________ Language(s) spoken in home________________________________________ Assessment Notes:__________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ Risk Measurements Imminent Harm to self, family, animals, public:___________________ _____________________________________________________________________ Threat of Eviction: _________________________________________ Threat of Condemnation:_____________________________________ Capacity Measurements Instructions: Place a check mark by the items that represent the strengths and capacity to address the hoarding problem Awareness of clutter Willingness to acknowledge clutter and risks to health, safety and ability to remain in home/impact on daily life Physical ability to clear clutter Psychological ability to tolerate intervention Willingness to accept intervention assistance Capacity Notes: __________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ Post-Assessment Plan/Referral _________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ Date: _________________ Client Name: _____________________________ Assessor: ___________________________________________ © Bratiotis, 2009 We hope this helps identify a hoarding loved one
If you find yourself need to clear the estate of a hoarding loved one, please contact Clutter&Hoarding Pros™ for ethical, trustworthy, and non-judgmental hoarding remediation services, including clearing and cleaning a hoarded estate and remediating the home for living or sale.
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AuthorMichelle Quintana Featured Service Information
• Hoarding Clearout Saves More than "Stuff" · Why Clients Hire—and Trust— Clutter&Hoarding Pros · Levels IV & V Clear-Out · Is My Loved One a Hoarder? • After the Clean-Out • Animal Hoarding • Decluttering for the Elderly • What Is a Hoarding Clean- Out? • Hoarding vs. Clutter • Hoarding Help in Orange County • Hoarding Help in LA County • How to Choose a Hoarding Clean-Out Company • Why a Junk-Hauling Service Is NOT What You Need! • Paper, Paper, Everywhere! • Are You a Concerned Third Party? • Estate Clearing for a Loved One—You're Not Alone • Clearing a Hoarded Estate During the Holidays • Where Do You Fit In? • Deep Cleaning a Cleared Estate • "That's okay, we have insurance . . ." • Planning to Sell Your Hoarded Estate? • In-Home Assessment for Hoarding Remediation-- Second Step to Success • Is Your Relative's Home Red-Tagged? • 7 Simple Step to a Successful Estate Sale |