Clutter in a few spots of a senior living home might seem harmless, but it can grow into a hoarding problem, which is a serious medical condition.
Compulsive hoarding is an excessive collection of worthless objects, such as newspapers or garbage, accompanied by the inability to throw them away and clean the place. It creates difficult living conditions; people with this problem put themselves and their neighbors in danger because of the risk of fire and lack of hygiene that creates infection outbreaks.
Compulsive hoarding is associated with obsessive-compulsive disorder, but many of its aspects actually are a mystery, and researchers continue to learn new things about it.
Treatment is also difficult because specialists are not yet sure which option is more effective. It is good for the patient to be seen by a mental health professional who has experience in treating this condition.
There are two main types of treatment:
- Psychotherapy
- Drug treatment (the most commonly used drugs prescribed for this disorder are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), a type of antidepressants).
Prevention
Since little is known about what triggers compulsive hoarding, it is difficult to talk about prevention. However, as with other mental illness, treatment started right from the first symptoms can help limit its development. Places such as https://erseniorliving.com/the-craig-retirement-home-amarillo-texas.aspx can help seniors to live in adequate space as they age, and give them the feeling of home.
First Posted over here: Tips For Dealing With Senior Living Clutter
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