Elderly Care in Pembroke Pines FL
When it comes to the elder care and hoarding, family caregivers can be just as overwhelmed as their elderly loved one. Elderly hoarding, or Diogenes Syndrome, is a real and often overlooked problem. Letting go of possessions can be difficult, especially when those possessions are attached to memories.
Diogenes Syndrome
Diogenes syndrome, also known as senile squalor syndrome, is the diagnostic term for elderly hoarding. It is often characterized by extreme self-neglect, compulsive hoarding of garbage, domestic squalor, social withdrawal, apathy and a lack of shame.
Causes
Causes that can make the elderly more prone to hoarding include:
● Loss or fear of loss
● Anxiety
● Isolation from living alone for a long period
● Lack of social interaction
● Emotional or physical trauma
● Mental decline
● Depression associated with loneliness
Risks
Hoarding causes risk of physical danger. Your loved one could slip and fall or live under the constant threat of a house fire. It can also be the sign of a more serious medical condition like Alzheimer’s disease or mental illness.
Signs
How would a caregiver recognize the signs of elder hoarding in his or her loved one? Here is what to look for:
● Piles of mail and unpaid bills
● Trouble walking safely through a home
● Difficulty trying to organize or managing activities of daily living
● Ongoing difficulty letting go of personal possessions, regardless of their value
● Strong urges to save items, and/or significant distress at the thought of discarding them
● A level of clutter so extreme that a home or office is unusable
● Expired food in the refrigerator
● Jammed closets and drawers
● Compulsive shopping
● Difficulty deciding whether to discard items
● Loneliness
● A health episode such as a stroke or dementia
There can be many physical, emotional and financial consequences for your loved one if he or she is dealing with elderly hoarding. Be sure to consult with your loved one’s doctor or healthcare provider if you suspect that he or she is hoarding.
Need some help?
Your loved one’s home care provider is there to assist you and your loved one as much as possible. This includes assisting with daily household tasks that have become increasingly more difficult as your loved one ages or providing needed respite services. Utilize your home care provider as much as you can. Doing so will make providing elder care to your loved one all the more better.
If you or a family member near Pembroke Pines, FL are in need of elderly care services, call the caring professionals at Star Multi Care today at (954) 870-4770. Providing Service in Ft. Lauderdale, Boca Raton, Pompano Beach, Delray Beach, Coconut Creek, Taramac, Margate, and surrounding Florida cities.
Sources
http://www.caregiverstress.com/aging-issues/senior-hoarding/senior-hoarding-issues/
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