The Plight of Hoarding and Excessive Gathering
Hoarding (or excessive gathering) can impact people from all walks of life. It can be a difficult subject to approach because it is so very personal. Some people with issues surrounding hoarding or excessive gathering do not see anything wrong with it while others may be mortified and embarrassed about the condition of their home. The individual(s) may even acknowledge that they know they have too much stuff, but then may say something like “everything they have has a purpose” or that they just “cannot part with anything”. There are many potential causes for an individual, or family, to keep or obtain excessive items, such as early deprivation, trauma, obsessive/compulsive disorders, and more. In some instances it is just a gradual result of things building up over time to the point where it gets overwhelming. We often see this most frequently in the elderly or those with health impacts which make it difficult to keep up with things. No matter the cause, it can be overwhelming for the individual(s) as well as for friends and family.
Issues can range from just clutter to extreme clutter and are often placed into 5 levels:
Level 1 - Minimal clutter that doesn't affect functionality, but objects and belongings aren't organized. Professional services can be used to help get things done but are generally not required.
Level 2 - Noticeable object collection, such as covering horizontal surfaces with dishes, and embarrassment with visitors but access to food, bathrooms, doorways, are accessible. Hallway clearance(s) may be impacted but are navigable. Embarrassment and isolation may start to show and/or increase at this level. Professional services, while not required, may be helpful in getting things to the point where the individual, or others, can keep it up.
Level 3 - Odors, poor hygiene, and clutter that spreads into rooms and hallways, encroaching on living spaces making it harder to access or fully utilize the kitchen, bathroom, bedroom/s or other areas often necessary for taking care of basic needs. Isolation may increase at this point with individuals often reluctant to allow others in their home. Isolation is also impacted by family members’ and others’ reluctance to come into the home. Rotting food, human and/or animal feces, animal carcasses, and such add to the odor and are creating an unsanitary and unhealthy environment. Professional services may be needed, or recommended, to help with cleanup due to possible animal and human waste and the general unsanitary nature of the situation.
Level 4 - Structural damage, sewage issues, and unusable rooms, with limited access to many parts of the home. Severe impacts on health and wellness are typically clearly evident as individual/s cannot take care of basic hygiene or fully access the kitchen for meal prep. Rotting food, feces, rodent and insect infestations, maggots and flies, etc are more prevalent. Family/friend support often tends to be minimal or nonexistent at this point due to the severity of issues and/or frustration from those who have tried to help but have been turned away. At this level the situation is beyond overwhelming as well as unsanitary and professional services are strongly recommended as full PPE and safety measures are generally required.
Level 5 - Fire hazards, no electricity or running water, accumulated human feces, and severe structural damage, such as broken walls. The most severe and most impactful to health, wellness and safety. At this level there is often no choice but to contract with professionals to safely clean and sanitize the space. Full PPE required. .
Regardless of the cause, or level, of hoarding/clutter/excessive collecting, some of the biggest concerns relate to health and safety. While excessive clutter in and of itself can impact mental health, of greater concern are issues such as rotting food, feces (animal or human), trip and fall hazards, collapse hazards, and the inability to access food, water, or bathroom facilities.
Whatever the situation, or cause, the resident/s are often very embarrassed and ashamed about the state of their living environment. Either due to this embarrassment or for financial reasons, it is not uncommon for people to not call for repairs when plumbing or other issues arise, leading to unsanitary and unsafe conditions. It is not uncommon for us to find human feces and urine. Sometimes just due to incontinence but often a result of plumbing not working. Toilets and bathtubs full of feces. Plastic shopping bags with feces in them, etc. No matter the situation or reason, again this is a health and safety hazard. We find washers and dryers which stopped working years past and the owners was too embarrassed to have someone come in to fix or replace them. We also find this with other appliances such as refrigerators and ovens/stoves.
Examples of Hoarding/Excessive Gathering:
There are all sorts of items that people may collect. Mail, paperwork, books, nic-nacs, games, fabric, clothes… The things that people hoard/gather come in all shapes and sizes. For example, we have seen excessive online shopping, which led to items being stacked from floor to ceiling, becoming a health and safety issue. In this instance, not only was there an issue with safety due to the high potential for collapse, but the hoarding had become so much that they could no longer access food and water which severely impacted the resident’s health, requiring hospitalization. In this home most items were still in their original packaging.
There are also situations where individuals have many animals residing in the home with them. These situations invariably involve animal waste and (sometimes a significant amount of it), dead animals, all mixed in with general debris, clothing, and household items. On the more severe end we had an instance where a family allowed pigs, goats, chickens and other animals to live in the home. Hopefully you or a family member will not need to deal with this level of biohazard but I point this out to indicate that there are all levels and types of hoarding or excessive clutter. From mild to moderate all the way up to severe, and can involve a whole range of items from mail to clothing, food, garbage, animals, and more.
What can you do?
If you are the individual whose home has become unmanageable and it is either getting or is already out of control, don’t hesitate to request help. Yes, that can be difficult to do as embarrassment and/or shame may hinder this reach out. Oftentimes the first place to turn to for help is from friends and/or family. I will also acknowledge that I have run into situations where family and/or friends have all but thrown up their hands in frustration with the situation, leading to the isolation and possible ostracization of the individual who needs help. You may also find that family/friends are overwhelmed and unsure how to help. In these circumstances reaching out to a company such as ours may be the best option.
I fully acknowledge and recognize that asking for help in these situations can be very difficult for many reasons. Very often there is a lot of anxiety associated with disposing of items and/or allowing others into the home to clean. Unfortunately, sometimes it takes an extreme event or years of dealing with issues prior to an individual being willing to allow somebody in. In other instances family members can provide support and encouragement to help an individual get to the point where they are willing to allow something to be done.
This leads me to what you can do if you have a family member or close friend who lives in an unhealthy environment. First and foremost, patience and understanding is key. Guilting or shaming someone into allowing items to be discarded or a home to be cleaned rarely works and may make the situation worse. In my experience, individuals, if they are aware that it is a problem, are already living in a state of shame and guilt and are much harder on themselves than you could be. It is important to understand that individuals do not set out to be a hoarder, or to allow their environment to get overwhelming. In most cases it starts out slowly and things build up to the point where they are out of hand. At some point it just becomes overwhelming and difficult to even do anything and things often get exponentially worse. Include them in decision making and don’t force them to throw something away. You can also help them to seek mental health support and treatment.
A prime example of patience and working with an individual was one where we were called in by a member of the family’s church who had been continually reaching out and working with the couple impacted. This individual had lovingly worked with the couple and was able to go from talking to them on the porch to actually being allowed in the home. She had shown that she was there to support them and cared about them and was not going to judge them based on the state of the home. She earned their trust and was eventually able to call me and I was allowed to come over and discuss things with the elderly couple. While they were not ready for a clean up, I was able to discuss some safety issues with them and their friend was able to facilitate getting things fixed such as the stair railing, loose carpet causing a tripping hazard and other immediate concerns. I don’t expect they will ever utilize my or other such services, and that is okay, but the last I heard the couple was gradually allowing their friend to help out bit by bit and this was creating a safer and healthier environment for them.
Unfortunately, sometimes it is only after the passing of an individual that the family becomes aware of the severity of issues and are then in the position of needing to figure out what to do next. Whether the home is going to be kept or sold, the situation must be dealt with first and this can be an overwhelming task.
If you and/or others choose to take on this task yourself here are some important factors to be aware of:
Be safety conscious. Well meaning individuals have been severely injured or killed when stacks of items collapse on them. In situations where there are extreme stacks and piles of items it is generally best to start from an entryway and work your way in. Clearing as you go so that you are not venturing further into the home where you are more susceptible to falling items. Also, be sure that someone is aware of where you are and/or work with someone else so that if a collapse does occur, you can get help.
Be aware of potential biohazards. It is not uncommon for there to be plumbing issues leading to fecal waste needing to be cleaned up. Feces (human or animal), body fluids, deceased rodents or other animals all present a potential route of transmission for various pathogens. If you are faced with dealing with potentially infectious materials make sure to take appropriate precautions such as wearing gloves, face masks, respirators, and in many cases biohazard coveralls should also be worn.
Hazards of animal waste. Fecal matter from certain animals are known to carry deadly pathogens. For example, certain mouse droppings may carry the Hantaviruses. According to the CDC Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) can be fatal and has a mortality rate of 38%. Proper precautions are strongly recommended when dealing with rodent droppings. Ventilate the area if possible for at least 30 minutes prior to cleaning. Use a disinfectant and saturate the area for at least 5 minutes prior to initiating cleaning (read your product label and follow recommendations for the length of time to allow it to saturate prior to beginning cleaning). This not only helps to kill the virus, or other pathogens, but also has the added benefit of reducing the potential that the waste will become airborne when you start to clean the area. At minimum wear gloves but often additional personal protective equipment may be required, such as a respirator and/or appropriate coveralls (such as Tyvek or other similar items). The CDC has a handy guide for cleaning up after rodents that you can view here.
Other safety hazards. Be cautious of trip hazards such as frayed or loose carpet, holes in flooring, or other hazards that could result in possible injury. Be cautious of sharp objects, whether they be nails or screws protruding from the floor, walls, furniture, or elsewhere. Puncture wounds and/or lacerations are not only uncomfortable but can introduce potentially infectious material into your system. As a general rule, always proceed with caution. Getting the job done quicker is not worth a life changing injury or illness.
Expect the unexpected. Whether they be smells or sights, cleaning up an environment with a build-up of clutter that may have taken years to accrue can hide all sorts of surprises from rotting food to finding the remains of rodents or even the beloved pet which “ran away” several years back.
Avoid becoming overwhelmed. Lets face it, dealing with a home with excessive clutter or severe hoarding can be overwhelming. Take it one step or room at a time. The old adage applies here. “How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time”. If you look at the whole it can be very overwhelming so instead focus on a room or even a portion of a room. Tell yourself what your goal is: “Today I am going to focus on getting this corner cleaned out.” Taking it a piece at a time, with small attainable goals, will help you recognize that you accomplished something rather than trying to do everything at once and feeling like you didn’t make a dent.
Feel free to give us a call here at Pacific BioResponse Services. We understand that every hoarding situation is unique, and there is no solution that works across-the-board. We are happy to speak with you and help however we can and are ready to assist no matter what the circumstances or severity may be. Whether you are just trying to figure out how to tackle your excess clutter situation, wanting someone to give you a jump start and get it to where you feel you can manage the rest on your own, or if you have come to the conclusion that for you, it is just better to lift the weight off your shoulders and hand it over to the pros and know that it will be done right, give us a call. We are here to help you get your life, or the life of a loved one, back in order.
Jim Pittman
Owner Pacific BioResponse Services
