Hoarding is a behaviour that can be seen in people with\u00a0<\/span>Alzheimer’s<\/span><\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>other forms of dementia<\/span><\/a>, where individuals collect\u00a0and stockpile certain things. Sorting through things that are familiar to them can be reassuring for someone with dementia. For example, the person may want to keep piles of papers that are completely useless or stock up on food and refuse to dispose of it, even after it has gone off. Hoarding can also involve constant rummaging through drawers and belongings.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
Hoarding is most common in the early and middle\u00a0stages of Alzheimer’s disease<\/span><\/a>. It is typically a response to a feeling of anxiety or worries about losing things. Hoarding can occur due to feelings of a loss of control, loss of memory or loss of a meaningful role in life. It can also occur as a result of a loss of social ability, where the person with dementia feels isolated and turns to things to replace interacting with others.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
Hoarding can occur with any item, but some of the most common things that people with dementia may hoard include:<\/span><\/p>\n
Hoarding doesn\u2019t seem like a major issue for someone caring for a person with dementia. If it\u2019s not hurting anyone, and the person is happy to collect their things, then hoarding does not need to be monitored or managed. There are, however, some things that can be the result of hoarding that are a cause of concern. A carer or loved one may have to intervene in the following situations:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
If your loved one or the person you are caring for is experiencing hoarding and you feel like you should intervene, it\u2019s important to remember that you shouldn\u2019t try to clear everything out of their home all at once. The first step is to reorganise the piles of things and clear paths so that the person is less likely to trip over something.<\/span><\/p>\n
Some of the other things you can do include the following:<\/span><\/p>\n
Caring for a loved one with dementia is not easy. However, you are not in it alone. There are a number of resources that can help, such as caregiver\u00a0support groups. In addition, Brain Sparks offers a <\/span>Dementia Live\u00ae<\/span><\/a> course that immerses carers in the experience of living with dementia so that they can gain powerful insights for effectively communicating with patients.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"