As Professional Organizers who work with people with hoarding disorder we are trying to change the way that people think about and treat people with hoarding issues. Older adults, especially, are often mistreated and stigmatized because of their hoarding issues. Social service agencies, city agencies and hoarding task forces are limited in their ability to help these clients due to the lack of funding and lack of education and services available.
Bob Casey (D-PA) reached out to our national association (Institute for Challenging Disorganization - ICD) to get some feedback on what we have experienced in working with this clientele.
The result was a very long report about the community impact of hoarding disorder, comunity responses to hoarding disorder and the federal government and hoarding disorder.
As a Professional Organizer with Advanced Hoarding certification and the organizer of the Missoula Hoarding Task Force - I am proud to have contributed to this report.
Professional Organizers who work with this population have specialized training (through ICD) that enables them to work with individuals with "challenging clutter and hoarding issues" in a sensitive and caring manner. People with hoarding issues must be ready to accept help. Once they are, it is usually a long, slow process to help them get out from under their clutter. Our aim is not to make their home "picture perfect". We start with making their home safe and teaching them skills that they can use in the future.
Hoarding is complex. It's not about the "stuff".
Our special group of Professional Organizers is committed to helping change the way hoarding is seen. We are providing education to many agencies about hoarding issues and we hope that someday soon we will be able to provide help to people with hoarding issues who have limited funds by having our services covered by insurance.
We still have a long way to go!
How Hoarding Disorder Affects America's Odler Adults, First Responder, And Their Communities
A Report by the Majority Staff of The U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging
Chairman Bob Casey - July 2024
Less Clutter = Less Stress SM in your home, your business and your life
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