Serving Our Seniors Magazine

Bert Rahl retired as the Director of Mental Health from the Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging. For the ¿UVW \HDUV RI KLV FDUHHU he worked to help those living with the compulsion to hoard objects/things. Severe hoarding affects 4% - 6% of people of all ages. “Hoarding is a perception problem. The affected person’s perception is commonly feeling unloved, unwanted and hopeless; and they think they don’t have a very good memories. It typically starts in late teens. By their 20’s the condition is formed and the behavior develops slowly as they age,” he said. They tend to live long lives. 0DQ\ SHRSOH WKLQN IRUFLQJ D FOHDQ RXW ZLOO ¿[ WKH SUREOHP Aging and Hoarding “This is the worst thing you can do for them, emotionally/ mentally,” said Rahl. Removing the items that the affected person cherishes, provokes the same sense of grief and loss as losing someone they love. To clarify, Rahl said, “This will only cause them to work harder to replace the objects that are now gone.” Even when people with hoarding behavior agree to a “clean out” there is a risk of emotional harm. For example, an adult child may say, “You can’t see your grandchildren, until you clean out your house.” Bert wants the readers to understand, “That person is going to feel something. It may be anger. Anger turned inward can cause depression.” In some cases, one can become very depressed.” There is a Hoarding Conference, by ZOOM, November 3 & 4, 2022. For more information go to www. hoardingconnectioncc.org. In the next issue of the magazine we will write about a support group for those suffering from this condition. It is called, Buried in Treasures – Cleveland Chapter. Bert Rahl 15