Recently we blogged about the numerous resources for hoarding help available in Orange County; this month we’re focusing on resources for hoarding help in Los Angeles County.
Cleanup of a hoarder’s home is usually not the first step in remediation of a hoarding situation. The hoarder or his/her family or friends must make an initial contact with either a hoarding clean-up and clear-out service or a County hoarding intervention resource such as Adult or Child Protective Services, the Department of Mental Health, or one of the other resources listed below (websites and phone numbers are in the list below). Following are excerpts from the Hoarding Fact Sheet published by the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health Countywide Older Adult Programs [http://www.la4seniors.com/hoarding.htm].  ____________________________________________________________________________ WHAT IS HOARDING? Hoarding is the excessive collection and retention of things or animals until they interfere with day-to-day functions with the home, health, family, work, and/or social life. Severe hoarding causes safety and health hazards. The collection of newspapers, magazines, old clothes, and other items may cause fires, while animal hoarding can spread contagious diseases. It is estimated that older adults represent a significant number of people who hoard. WHY DO PEOPLE HOARD? The behavior of hoarding is seen in various illnesses. Frequently, older adults have been found to hoard for the following reasons:
INTERVENTION Hoarding is both a mental health issue and a public health problem. The hoarding behavior usually has been occurring for a long time, and hasty interventions will not resolve it. Interventions without the hoarder's cooperation can lead to the development of dangerous behaviors. It is recommended that intervention be collaborative, involving the older adult, family, and other agencies such as mental health professionals, adult protective services, code enforcement, building & safety, animal control, and criminal justice. Do’s and Don'ts for Intervention with an Older Adult Hoarder
The Danger of Hasty Intervention Negative results can occur when interventions are not carefully planned with a group of professionals with hoarding knowledge:
The Benefits of Planned Intervention It is recommended that intervention be collaborative, involving the older adult, friends/family, and other agencies:
Below is a list of standards used by the LA County Hoarding Task Force for LA Fire Code Safety & Evacuation Standards. [This is helpful in making an assessment of the person’s home prior to planning an intervention.]
WEBSITES AND OTHER RESOURCES
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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 |