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Anxietynacy Asked April 20, 2024

Looking for some suggestions on a hoarding situation.

I have a friend (80) who is very worried about her brother's living condition. He is 75, and in a hording situation. He has some major health issues, but I can't remember what. His wife works, he is on SS and that's his only income. I have driven by the house and have no doubt that she is not exaggerating the situation. She says you have to walk though the house sideways, fridge door is broke, but still being used.


She brought him to the doctors, for the second time, due to an all-over body rash. She told the doctor the situation all he said was that it is a welfare case. Didn't give her any suggestions. He gave him steroids, for the second time. Her brother just doesn't care if he lives, and won't leave the home.


She called APS but when they asked her name she hung up.


The only other thing I know is there are like 20 goats in a pen just off the back of the house and rabbits in the basement.

Geaton777 Apr 20, 2024
Hoarding is a mental disorder that requires therapy to overcome. Cleaning up the hoard just provokes and enrages them. The wife probably gave up trying to change him and made a decision to stay. Maybe she's also a hoarder.

If the mess is spilling out into their yard and they are in a residential neighborhood I'm sure someone has already tried reporting them to the city. As long as his wife is (maybe) being a buffer, nothing will happen until one of them has a crisis.

A doctor can't do anything except treat the person in front of them for the symptoms they are complaining about. Again, the wife is holding down a job and is seemingly functional outside the home, able to do ADLs.

The animals can be checked for neglect, that's about it. If the animal welfare or ASPCA is allowed into the basement to check the rabbits, not sure if they can report what they find elsewhere in the house.

JoAnn29 Apr 20, 2024
I think the wife should be reported for allowing the house to get this way and leaving him in it. The goats, is the property zoned for livestock? The bunny's, leaving them in a basement may be cruelty. I can imagine the smells if the animals are not properly taken care of.

I would call Animal welfare. They will need to get to the basement for the rabbits and will see the house and hopefully call APS or the HealthDept.

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KNance72 Apr 20, 2024
I know the fire department will get Involved because Hoarding is a Fire hazard .

AlvaDeer Apr 20, 2024
Suggestions? I think that the MD is correct, that this is a safety and welfare case.
It should be reported to the County through Sheriff or Police as to safety conditions on the property. They are the ones who can do followup with asking that the situation be "cleaned up" or the property condemned. That said, where would that leave the brother and his wife?
His skin condition could be anything. Either related to the house or not. Often there is no running water or bathing facilities, or even flushing toilets in these homes.

This is a national problem at this time.
It's truly sad but I think that family AND governmental authorities feel helpless to find a way to address it. It is now a part of the DSM-5: this from the internet:

"Hoarding Disorder DSM-5 300.3 (F42) - Therapedia

WebDSM-5 reports that 2% to 6% of the population have a hoarding disorder. Although hoarding is more common in older adults (55-94 years), it appears to begin at 11-15 years, and starts to cause significant impairment when people are in their 30’s (DSM-5).
EXPLORE FURTHER

How To Help A Hoarder: 5 Things You Should Never Say To A …
unclutteredsimplicity.com
Hoarding disorder: a new diagnosis for DSM-V? - PubMed
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Hoarding Disorder | New England Journal of Medicine
nejm.org
Hoarding disorder - Diagnosis and treatment - Mayo Clinic
mayoclinic.org
The 5 Stages of Hoarding Disorder | Hoarders 911
hoarders911.com
10 Signs of Hoarding Disorder and 3 Psychological Causes …
lifeadvancer.com"
So
There's a ton of stuff out there on the internet. But what to do if you are the sister?
I honestly haven't a clue.
I personally would start with APS if I were going to intervene.
Intervention may spell the loss of everything for this couple. I would be hesitant to be responsible for that.
Maybe just be a good listener for your friend; I just don't know.
Anxietynacy Apr 20, 2024
Thanks Alva, yes I agree, I don't want to get involved. But if she ask I probably would call APS for her but I'm not going to suggest it
stuckinVA Apr 20, 2024
She can ask for a police welfare check which may result in a call to APS or she can call APS and tell them she can’t give her name and wants to do an anonymous report.
Anxietynacy Apr 20, 2024
That's what I thought, she told me that they insisted on her name. I think she is just scared of her brother finding out it is her .

But I will tell her both of those things.

She brings him up to me often , so I know it really upsets her, and I don't believe she is exaggerating. So I figured I'd ask. Thanks

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