The Consequences of Clutter - The U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging Report

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!

The Consequences of Clutter 

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

   Statement from Karin Fried, Organizational Consulting Services .......................................B-139  

   Statement from Kim Cox, President-Elect,The Institute for Challenging Disorganization..................................B-025  (our national group leader)

Less Clutter = Less Stress ^SM     in your home, your business and your life

Organizational Consulting Services

http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
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Visit our Life & Business Coaching website:  North By Northwest

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Interview with Sunbound - learn more about me

 

I just had the pleasure of being interviewed by Nat Miller of Sunbound. 

What is Sunbound?

Sunbound is the first turn-key relocation solution for older adults. We take all the stress out of moving by helping you find your new home, sell your old home, and everything in between. After signing up for Sunbound, you will work with an experienced Sunbound Concierge who is an expert in every step of the relocation process. Sunbound makes sure you enjoy moving on your schedule.

To read the entire article:

Sunbound Asks: Karin Fried of Organizational Consulting Services

Less Clutter = Less Stress ^SM     in your home, your business and your life

Organizational Consulting Services

http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
.

Visit our Life & Business Coaching website:  North By Northwest

*** check out the Products tab for self-paced workshops, planners and more....

What Can You Use a Professional Organizer For? Lots of Things!

Professional Organizers can help you with more than just organizing your closets (though we love closets!).

Some of the things we can help with include:

Downsizing: 

   Decluttering & purging. Sorting what to move.

   Help with packing. Help with staging a home for sale (an uncluttered home sells better).

   Unpacking and setting up your new home.

We work with seniors and their families to make the transition from a home they have lived in for 40 years - to a smaller space (senior apartment or assisted living....) a stressless process.

Aging in Place:

We can help with decluttering and making your current home a safer environment for seniors. Making sure there is enough space for walkers and that things are at a lower level so that seniors don't have to reach for things (and possibly hurt themselves).

Estate Clear Outs:

   Taking an inventory of the home

   Sorting personal property & finding donation sites for unwanted items

   Locating & Organizing vital documents and important papers

   Arranging for home cleaning and housing repairs

   Working with attorneys and family to distribute belongings

Combining Households:

When households combine it takes a lot of patience and decluttering in getting rid of duplicates and making the home look like it belongs to one family - instead of two. Coming up with solutions and processes that both families can live with is the first step.

Life Management:

   Paper Management - how to process mail, bills, receipts, paying bills and more

   Time Management - making time work for you - instead of the other way around

   Work/Life Balance - finding solutions that keep your family happy and together - w/o stress

Organizing a College Student & their Dorm Room:

   There isn't much space - so having an efficient Organizing system is crucial

   Helping with Time Management & coming up with Life Organizing systems

Closets, Pantries, Garages, Attics and more...........

*** These are just some of the things that a Professional Organizer can help you with....

 

Less Clutter = Less Stress ^SM     in your home, your business and your life

Organizational Consulting Services

http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
.

Visit our Life & Business Coaching website:  North By Northwest

*** check out the Products tab for self-paced workshops, planners and more.... 

 

Organizing for Seniors - Tips to a Safer Home

As people age their requirements for safety and ease of living changes. In making a home safe and easier for older adults there are a few things that you should do.

1) Be careful of throw rugs - in fact - get rid of them. Throw rugs are a safety hazard. They provide ample opportunity for people to trip.

2) Put things down at a lower level so that older adults don't have to reach up to get things. In the kitchen put the dishes and glasses that are used most often on a lower shelf.

   In the bedroom closet -  make sure that clothes are more easily accessible and lower.

3) Don't make older adults bend down so often. Anything that is normally kept on the floor or a very low shelf - should be moved up a bit highter.

4) Make sure there is ample lighting in every room - so that older adults are not straining their eyes and can see things more clearly. This also helps with safety - in navigating from room to room.

5) Keep the walk paths clear of clutter - so that no one trips over things on the floor.

6) Keep the rooms clear of clutter - for easier maintenance for older adults - with less energy to clean.

7) Make sure there are grab bars in the bathroom.

8) Make sure there are handrails going up and down all steps.

A few simple changes will make the lives of older adults living at home much more enjoyable and much safer!


Less Clutter = Less Stress ^SM     in your home, your business and your life 

Organizational Consulting Services

http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com

Aging in Place

Aging happens - to all of us - ready of not. Don't wait until you have to make hard decisions to make those decisions. Be realistic - think ahead - make the decisions on your own terms.

It's not always about "being old".  Sometimes it's about the "empty nest" - and having too much space - that you don't want to or have time to clean.

Sometimes it's about wanting to be near family and friends or having more social contact.

Sometimes it's about the physical limitations of aging - not being able to reach or bend like you used to when you were younger.

Don't stick your head in the sand. Think about the future - and age as you want to - on your own terms.

Read some of the older articles on aging, downsizing and organizing your life.


Looking Ahead - Aging - Disabilities and Home Design

Professional Organizers Called Upon As Seniors  Downsize

Seniors and Downsizing - Moving to a Smaller Home

Rightsizing - Downsizing for Your Current Life Style


Information Organizing - Medical and Life

Organizing for Different Types of People



Less Clutter = Less Stress ^SM     in your home, your business and your life 

Organizational Consulting Services

http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com

Seniors - Downsize/Rightsize - Do It On Your Own Terms

As people age and their family size decreases (kids grow up and out) - they tend to need less room and don't want the responsibility of having to take care of a large house.

Downsizing - or rightsizing can help them get rid of the extra work needed to run a larger home.

The problem with a lot of seniors (and all people really) - is that they have a hard time letting go. They have collected items - precious items - over the course of 50 or 60 or 70 years - and it's hard to let go. Their things mean something to them.

However - they might not (and usually don't) mean anything to anyone else. It's all in the eye of the beholder!

Another issue to consider - is aging and medical issues that force people to give up their homes and move into assisted living or senior apartments. They are then forced to make some very hard decisions and get rid of things - very quickly.

So - do it on your own terms!  Start downsizing/rightsizing as you age.  Instead of waiting until you die to give things to people - do it over time - on your own terms!  This way you can see them enjoy your prized possessions. And if they don't want them - you have the chance to give them to someone that does!

Take control of your life and your possessions!  Don't let someone make these decisions for you!


Downsizing can be a tough process for anyone, but especially for seniors who find themselves with a large home. More and more are tackling the huge job of downsizing their living spaces. In fact, about six percent of Americans between the ages of 55 and 64 move each year, according to the Over-50 Council of the National Association of Home Builders. As seniors reach the time to downsize belongings and move into smaller, more manageable homes, many have a hard time figuring out what to do with all of the “stuff ” they’ve accumulated over the years.

To have a more simplified lifestyle many seniors decide to move to a smaller, more manageable home.

Following are some tips for seniors downsizing:

• Get rid of the guilt factor — Many seniors feel they are the “keepers” of their family heirlooms and have a hard time getting rid of items for which they no longer have room. And even adult “children” have a hard time with their parents leaving the “family home” thinking that their childhood memories will be gone forever.

Instead of waiting to give your children some of your possessions that you would most likely leave them anyway - give them these pieces now, especially if you are not using them on a regular basis anyway. They will be able to enjoy them now and you will be able to watch them enjoy them!

However - please don't guilt your family members into taking things that you like - but they don't. Parents have a tendency to want to give things to their kids - that the kids don't want or have a use for. You might think that you are being kind and generous - but consider the other persons taste and lifestyle. Not everyone uses good china anymore. Don't let your feelings get hurt if they don't want the item. Give it to someone that will appreciate it. It's your choice.

If younger family members are not interested in taking the items then consider donating them to a worthy cause. Some organizations purchase furniture, high-end clothing, and porcelain, and then sell those items to raise money for specific causes or charities.

Professional organizers can help seniors sort through household items to strategically figure out what will work in their new space. They also can help seniors identify which organizations to turn to that are best at finding new homes for family heirlooms.

• Find movers specializing in senior needs — Moving is stressful for everyone, but some moving companies specialize in making the transition easier for seniors, and professional organizers can help find the perfect “mover match” for a client. A professional organizer can help pare down items before the move and make the process easier at moving time.

Some professional organizers will also help with things such as helping the clients hang pictures on the walls for clients unable to do so themselves, handling the change of address and utilities, setting up electronics at a new home, and much more.

• Have a professional organizer reassess every five to ten years — As seniors get older, modern appliances or high shelving can become more difficult to use or simply unnecessary considering their lifestyle changes. Hire a professional organizer to evaluate and reassess your needs every five to ten years to make sure your home is still working for you.

For example, seniors who usually eat dinner alone should bring two to three sets of dinnerware to their level instead of keeping everything in out-of-reach cabinetry. Sometimes seniors don’t realize everyday activities and household chores can be made easier just by adjusting the setup in their homes. Professional organizers are great resources to help identify easy ways seniors can simplify to improve their overall quality of life.


Less Clutter = Less Stress ^SM     in your home, your business and your life 

Organizational Consulting Services

http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/

Downsizing for Seniors

Downsizing can be a tough process for anyone, but especially for seniors who find themselves with a large home. More and more are tackling the huge job of downsizing their living spaces. In fact, about six percent of Americans between the ages of 55 and 64 move each year, according to the Over-50 Council of the National Association of Home Builders. As seniors reach the time to downsize belongings and move into smaller, more manageable homes, many have a hard time figuring out what to do with all of the “stuff ” they’ve accumulated over the years.

To have a more simplified lifestyle many seniors decide to move to a smaller, more manageable home.

Following are some tips for seniors downsizing:

• Get rid of the guilt factor — Many seniors feel they are the “keepers” of their family heirlooms and have a hard time getting rid of items for which they no longer have room. And even adult “children” have a hard time with their parents leaving the “family home” thinking that their childhood memories will be gone forever.

Instead of waiting to give your children some of your possessions that you would most likely leave them anyway….give them these pieces now, especially if they are not being used on a regular basis. They will be able to enjoy them now and you will be able to watch them enjoy them!

If younger family members are not interested in taking the items then consider donating them to a worthy cause. Some organizations purchase furniture, high-end clothing, and porcelain, and then sell those items to raise money for specific causes or charities.

Professional organizers can help seniors sort through household items to strategically figure out what will work in their new space. They also can help seniors identify which organizations to turn to that are best at finding new homes for family heirlooms.

• Find movers specializing in senior needs — Moving is stressful for everyone, but some moving companies specialize in making the transition easier for seniors, and professional organizers can help find the perfect “mover match” for a client. A professional organizer can help pare down items before the move and make the process easier at moving time.

Some professional organizers will also help with things such as helping the clients find people to hang pictures on the walls for  or set up electronics at a new home if they are unable to do it themselves.  Some professional organizers can help with handling the change of address and getting the utilities set up in their new home and so much more.

Professional Organizers can help with a variety of tasks besides organizing your closets!

• Have a professional organizer reassess every five years — As seniors get older, modern appliances or high shelving can become more difficult to use or simply unnecessary considering their lifestyle changes. Hire a professional organizer to evaluate and reassess your needs every five years to make sure your home is still working for you.

For example, seniors who usually eat dinner alone should bring two to three sets of dinnerware to their level instead of keeping everything in out-of-reach cabinetry. Sometimes seniors don’t realize everyday activities and household chores can be made easier just by adjusting the setup in their homes. Professional organizers are great resources to help identify easy ways seniors can simplify to improve their overall quality of life.

Don't wait until you need to downsize - start planning now - at your own pace.

Organizational Consulting Services

www.organizationalconsultingservices.com

Professional Organizer - Now A Medicaid Provider

I am very pleased to announce that I have become a Medicaid Provider in Missoula!

This is very exciting news!

What does this mean - well - it means that my services as a Professional Organizer have the approval of a number of social service agencies.

It means that people who previously might not have been able to use my services - people that are on Medicaid - now have access my services as a Professional Organizer.

A Professional Organizer can help in many areas of your life. We don't just organize closets!

A Professional Organizer can help people make their home more livable, more accessible and safer.

An unorganized home, especially one that is cluttered or one that might be considered a hoarding situation - can be a dangerous place - especially for the elderly or physically challenged.

A Professional Organizer can help people manage their time and their lives.

It is great to know that the services of a Professional Organizer is not only considered a luxury - but a necessity.

Being organized makes your life run smoother.  It helps you save time and money.  And in the case of a lot of people - it helps keep you safe and allows you to let people into your life and into your home.




Less Clutter = Less Stress ^SM     in your home, your business and your life

Organizational Consulting Services

http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/

Hoarding - the Aftermath

Hoarding is a very serious and devastating situation. It is emotionally draining. For the Professional Organizers that work with Hoarding clients it is unlike what you see on the T.V. shows. It is much more personal and more devastating.

Sometimes clients come into your life and make an impact that you never expected. One such client of mine was a hoarder.  As with most hoarders Professional Organizers usually know to expect the worst. My client was a wonderful, highly educated woman with a problem. A problem that I always suspected would eventually lead to her death.

But - she was lucky. As I had anticipated a fire did break out in her home but she was pulled out of her house by some neighbors and she survived. Not without extensive physical damage. But she survived.

The fire did finally force her out of her home and she is now living in a nursing home where she is getting the treatment she deserves.

Not everyone is so lucky.

Hoarding is a serious problem.

Read some of the stories from the past:

Langley Collyer

He lived with his brother, Homer, who was blind and paralyzed, in a three story mansion in New York.

It was filled from floor to ceiling with newspapers, boxes, barrels, crates and 10 grand pianos.

On March 21, 1947, the New York police received a tip that there was a dead body in the house. They broke down the front door but couldn’t get in because of all of the stuff.

They climbed in through a second story window and found Homer, dead. He had died of a heart attack.

The house was a maze of nests & tunnels and was booby trapped. There were trip wires that would bring down debris on any intruders.

Workers cut through the roof and lifted out 136 tons of junk.

After 18 days they found the body of Langley Collyer who had been dead for weeks.

It appeared that he had been crawling through a tunnel to deliver dinner to his brother when he triggered one of his own booby traps and suffocated. Homer had then starved to death.

What was salvageable from the tons of junk that had been collected, sold for less than $ 2,000 at auction. The house, condemned as a health and fire hazard, was razed. Today it is a parking lot.

Grey Gardens

In the early 1970s, two women related to Jackie Onassis were the subjects of the critically acclaimed documentary, Grey Gardens, about eccentric behavior. The women, Edith Bouvier Beale and her mother, Edith Ewing Bouvier, were former New York socialites who spent their days holed up in a decrepit East Hampton mansion.

When the Suffolk County Board of Health raided their house, they found piles upon piles of garbage amid human and animal waste. It was said that only three of the mansion’s 28 rooms were used, while the others were occupied by hundreds of cats, possums and raccoons.

When word of the deplorable conditions got o Jackie-O, she and her then-husband Aristotle Onassis paid $32,000 to clean the house, install a new furnace and plumbing system, and cart away 1,000 bags of garbage.

Organizational Consulting Services

www.organizationalconsultingservices.com

How Much is Enough - Shopaholic or Dementia ?

How much is enough?  A lot of people use shopping as a solution for a variety of issues. They are upset about something - so they shop. They are bored - so they shop. There's a "2 for 1 sale" - so they shop. They got some good news - so they shop. They got some bad news - so they shop.

Shopping is not a "cure all" for whatever ails you.

But some people don't shop because of any of the above reasons - they shop because they really believe they "need" the things they are buying. And some people - seniors - have problems with Dementia that are the root of some of these problems. They thing that they "need" more clothes or more food - so they buy and buy and buy.

It's on sale. It's a "2 for 1". Whatever the reason - it's not really valid. Their brain - their memory is not working properly - and no one can convince them that they don't really need 10 loaves of bread in their freezer or 75 pairs of socks.

If it's Tuesday - it must be "shopping day".  And you can't convince them otherwise. They have to shop. It's part of their routine. And don't mess with their routine.

Continuous shopping - for things that you don't really need or have room for is not only a problem for "shopaholics" - but also a problem for the elderly. It's a complex issue. An emotional and psychological issue.

We are bombarded with advertisements and brainwashed to shop. Not matter what. No matter that we really don't need all of the things that we see advertised.

How much is enough? 




Organizational Consulting Services

www.organizationalconsultingservices.com

Organizing for Seniors

Organizing is not as straight forward as people might think.  "Just get rid of stuff. Just move things around" some people would say.   Yes, that might be part of the organizing process but it does not take into account the special needs of each client.

Organizing for various age groups and people with varying degrees of capabilities requires special considerations.

As people age they might not have the strength to do the job themselves. They might get tired more easily. They might not be able to bend or lift things like people that are a lot younger. This also applies to people with varying health issues ...but for this session we want to talk about the special considerations that you might want to make when you are organizing with people that are a bit older.

If you are helping your parents or relatives that are over 60 you might want to take a step back and realize that they have different levels of energy, different ideas of what they want to let go of, different ideas on a lot of things.

As a non-professional organizer you might not think about all of the issues that they are facing but rather think about your own desire to just help them. This is a normal mistake that a lot (if not most) people make.

The first step that might help you is to just take a step back yourself and ask yourself  "how would you feel if someone came into your home and just started throwing all of your prized possessions and memories out?".  I am sure that the answer would be "not good".  So put yourself into their place, take a step back and think about them and what they want and need as you help them. Don't make this about you.

Some issues that you might have to deal with when organizing for seniors are:

Memory issues - they can't remember where they put things. Because of this they might have gotten into the habit of leaving everything out in the open (therefore causing a cluttered house) so that they can see it.

They constantly buy more and more (food or clothes.....or whatever) because they forgot they already have it.

Physical issues - they don't have the strength or stamina to clean up after themselves so they don't. Again, this is one possible cause of their cluttered home.

Mental issues - they no longer care about their home because they have lost a loved one and are depressed. Their friends are all dying and they have no social interaction.

All of the above are just some of the reasons that seniors might have more issues with clutter.

But clutter itself can also cause physical problems in that it creates a dangerous situation in their home with them tripping over the clutter and causing physical harm to themselves.

When working with seniors be sure to limit the amount of time for each organizing session. Make sure that they get plenty of breaks and snacks to keep their energy up.

So as you see.... organizing isn't just a straight forward project. It is a complex process that is different in every situation.




Organizational Consulting Services

www.organizationalconsultingservices.com