Hoarding Seminar Recap

It’s estimated that 3 million Americans could be considered "Compulsive Hoarders." At NeighborLink Fort Wayne, our volunteers encounter this condition more than we’d like to admit. So much so that it’s caused us to find out more about this issue. We want to find the root causes and ways we can better help the recipient find assistance. We do know that we may not be able to solve it for the individual, but if we can provide resources to them, they are more likely to find the right kind of help.

This past Wednesday evening, we hosted a training led by Margaret Machlan, current president of the Fellowship of Christian Counselors. Margaret presenting to 30 attendees on the psychological issues that are present with most people caught up in compulsive hoarding. Margaret’s presentation was the first attempt by NeighborLink to educate the volunteers and community social service agencies present on the bigger issues behind the projects we’re forced to deal with.

      

The consensus of the room was that the issue of hoarding is an extremely complex mental issue that doesn’t make a lot of sense to those not affected by it. Even those who spoke about having friends and family members with similar issues have a hard time understanding it. What seems like junk to the majority holds a value to the owner that can’t be comprehended. Even when that owner knows their situation isn’t healthy, they hold onto the soothing comfort of their belongings. 

There are no distinct demographic statistics that allow us to pinpoint a certain set of characteristics to look out for. Members of the Fort Wayne Neighborhood Code Enforcement Department that were in attendance mentioned that it ranges from elderly individuals to low-income individuals to very professional, well kept individuals that keep their hoarding hidden. There are studies that show compulsive hoarding tendencies begin when in your teens.  Those studies also show that if someone developed these traits after 35 years old or so, it’s usually a result of a traumatic head injury. 

Margaret did an excellent job leading this session and has given us a basic lesson on some of things to be aware of when interacting with people suffering with this issue. 

Here are some resources from the training event she would like to pass on to us. 

1. Hoarding Assessment - Download PDF

2. Harmless Packrat or Compulsive Hoarder - Article - Article PDF

3. You can access her presentation by clicking the image below.