As Veterans get older, they face so many new challenges, including mobility changes or chronic health issues. One issue they might not expect to face is hoarding behavior, which can start or worsen as seniors age. Veterans can experience trauma or challenges that manifest later as hoarding. Caring for an older Veteran while they battle hoarding can be a lot easier with the assistance of veterans home care providers.
Gradually Accumulating Items That Might Not Be Useful
One of the biggest signs of hoarding is that veterans may start to keep items that aren’t necessarily useful or helpful. This could include old newspapers, containers, clothing, or broken items. They might even tell family members that these are items that they could need later. Over time, those items keep piling up, and the house might get difficult to navigate.
Difficulty Discarding Items
Collecting a lot of items might not be as much of a problem for some aging Veterans as it is for them to discard items they don’t truly need. Attempting to throw away even trash can cause guilt, anxiety, or even distress. And if family members remove items without their knowledge, seniors might become extremely agitated.
Clutter in the Way of Living Spaces
As hoarding becomes a bigger issue for Veterans, they might find that their hoard starts to fill up their living spaces. Piles of belongings can block entrances, make it difficult to access windows, and block vents, hallways, and more. Flat surfaces like counters and tables may not be visible at all. Clearing off these areas might not be as easy as it used to be, and aging adults might start to avoid doing so.
Isolation and Reluctance to Have Visitors
People with hoarding tendencies may start to self-isolate sooner than other aging adults tend to. Family caregivers may find that aging Veterans stop inviting them over to their homes, or they refuse help from veterans home care providers and other family members. This happens because hoarding can cause shame or make seniors fear judgment from the people they love.
Neglecting Daily Tasks or Self-care
Hoarding gets in the way of so much for aging Veterans, including their ability to take care of themselves and their homes. Dishes and mail might pile up, and aging veterans might not be able to clean their homes well, which can lead to bugs and other problems. When the hoarding gets to this point, this is a red flag for family caregivers.
Cognitive Changes and Trouble Making Decisions
Sometimes people battling a hoarding disorder also have considerable trouble making decisions and planning solutions. These difficulties get even worse if aging veterans are battling health challenges, memory loss, and other issues. Family caregivers may need to work harder than they expect to convince aging Veterans to allow them to help.
Approaching hoarding situations with empathy is such an important first step for family caregivers. Veterans home care providers can help aging Veterans keep up with household tasks and personal care tasks, even if they’re still figuring out the challenges related to hoarding issues.
If you or an aging loved one is considering Veterans Home Care Services in Manhasset, NY, please contact the caring staff at Star Multi Care today. Call (631) 424-7827
Star Multi Care is a Trusted Home Care Agency serving Long Island and NYC, including Dix Hills, Floral Park, Great Neck, Huntington, Manhasset, Massapequa, Northport, Plainview, Rockville Center, Stony Brook, Suffolk County, Nassau County, and Queens County.
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