Has your loved one, before Alzheimer's was diagnosed, always been a bit of a pack rat, saving everything for a rainy day? Or, as younger versions of themselves, did they like to collect things, such as dolls, coins, and other items because they were perceived to be "valuable" or "enjoyable"? When this behavior goews to the extreme it is called "hoarding."
Dr. M. Reza Bolouri does not classify activity such as hiding food, clothing, watches and other personal items as hoarding. Instead, he reminds us that the individual may simply no longer know what to do with the item, is embarrassed, and will hide something instead of asking someone why they have it.
It is important to always keep in mind that a person's pre-Alzheimer's personality may trigger hoarding behavior in the disease. For example, someone who was already prone to experiencing anxiety, when faced with aging and the possibility of outliving their resources, may begin to collect and save against the onslaught of feeling overwhelmed by what lies ahead, noted Dr. Bolouri.
Very interesting article. Before ALZ, my DH was a hoarder. He kept everything - and I threw it away when I could. After ALZ - about 4 years into it - in fact last spring, he went through everything and wanted to have a yard sale (UGH) - but we did - and he got rid of most of it - and gave away the rest. Now, he wants no clutter, and doesn't keep anything. I have to watch the newspaper or he'll throw it away before I've read it! And when anyone comes over he HAS to give them something. I have moved all the good stuff!
I'm in trouble. You know those keychains you too often get in the mail from a charity you never heard of. Well-what do you do with them. I put them in an already overcrowded junk drawer.
My granddaughter adores those keychains from the Humane Societies. I think she passes them along to friends! Offer them to the next Brownie who comes along selling cookies!!
Funny, I just responded to that particular thread in Alz news. My Dh was always a saver, I've got it pretty much under control by keeping it in his 'den' Of course he tells me my den is a mess too, but I take care of the bill, sew my quilts, do the ironing, have the computer and on and on. he does nothing in his room but move his old magazines from place to place, and also the margerine containers and the coffee cans. but I did move those to the garage. talk about clutter, thank goodness I'm not trying to sell the house.
When my FIL went into the Alzheimer unit, we found loads of pennies under his bed. Evidently he would find them laying around or get into her purse, then stash them under the bed. Course this could have gone back to the depression. In the late 90s he was living in the war. He would constantly talk about over in Europe and his buddies. My grandmother, mom and FIL all did this - wish I had written down their stories, especially my grandmother.
hmmmm, before diagnosis Dh wasn't much of a saver/hoarder but after or should I say during the P.A.D.D ( Process of Alzhiemer's Disease Diagnosis) he hoarded rubber bands to this day I will find small stashes of them but throw them away before it becomes a mountain of them.
Vickie, same issue with the paper here, I swear he walks out to get it, takes the rubber band off and puts it in his pocket for safe keeping then walks directly to the trash can and throws the paper away................................ It's an Alrighty Then! moment that makes me crazy.
RK - could have put your post under giggles and jokes. I know it is frustrating, but it is funny. I can never find a rubber band when I want one - I will keep you in mind.
There could be worse things to collect like 'dirty toilet paper' - gross thought.
We have a whole bedroom which was my husband's "study" after our eldest moved out. It is CRAMMED with stuff, total hoarding. For the longest I wouldn't go in and get ANYTHING, touch ANYTHING; it was HIS ROOM. Now he doesn't go in it at all, I raid it for office supplies, but am totally in denial about needing to get in there and really clean up. It's daunting. I can understand why people rent dumpsters!! What does one do with old loose-leaf binders? We're talking easily a HUNDRED of the damned things, mostly filled with articles he copied from library books, neatly organized. The paper I can pitch, but what to do with the binders!!
But the thing is, they're not paper. They're plastic and metal. I can't recycle them. They will literally have to go into the dump, which makes me feel guilty since I try to recycle as much as possible.
Bluedaze, spare yourself the guilt...ask someone ELSE to toss them into the dumpster. That's how I protested the high cost of gasoline. I had my son take my car to the service station and fill the gas tank. I showed those oil companies how I felt, yes indeed!
Charlotte, I have said in more than one post, the weird happenings in the AD world would make a great comedy if it weren't so very sad................... The next time I find a stash I will be glad to send them to you! < BIG GRIN > Rk
Briegull--offer them on freecycle. You offer, whoever can use contacts you to arrange to come get them. They get used, you have them gone, not in the dumpster. No cost. Done online.
OR Contact Charities or Social Organizations. They might use for record keeping. When I did work on a Pregnancy Hotline, all my contact info and instructions were in one--each operator had one. They might appreciate the savings in office supplies.
My MIL had 3 of those old big 3-lb coffee cans stuffed full of those little plastic clips on the end of bread bags. I guess no one ever told her she could throw them out. We never could figure it out.
Please don't dump the binders. A friend, a teacher was just telling me the other day how she looked at one of the online ads and found free binders for her classroom and was delighted to find someone that had them to give away!
Somebody ALWAYS wants everything (except my old TV) Here, I would call a couple people I know will gladly take most everything that is free or then put them in boxes and set out at the end of my driveway and write FREE on the box. I can almost guarantee they will be gone in 2 hours or less. I have gotten rid of an old water heater, bathtub, garage sale leftovers, old chairs, etc. this way as have my neighbors.
///across the street from our church, they put out a beautiful wrought-iron bedsted for free. It was there for 3 weeks. I was just about to have my son come over with his pickup and get it when they put up a different sign--For Sale--$50. It was stolen the next day.
You might try offering them for sale in the yard and maybe someone will steal them. :)
THANKS FOR THE IDEAS! I think Freecycle is a great idea, and then otherwise put them on Craigslist. I have some other stuff (hundreds of dollars of old photographic equipment) I was thinking of posting for.. and some old LPs..
My husband keeps old magazines, coffee cans, glass jars, rubber bands, twist ties off bread wrappers, binders, clippings from the newspaper, screws, nails. You name it, we've got it. You never know when you might need one. Amazingly, I did find about 12 old magazines in the recycling yesterday!
My dh has a collection of about 1000 Cd's and videos and cassettes of Gospel Music. He also has 2 sets of those hugh speakers and amplifers, note changers, etc. that were used on stage many years ago. He still thinks they are valuable.
One word of caution about the craigslist. Make sure that YOU answer the phone or the door and not your LO!!!!!!!! No telling what they might leave with!!!!!!!!!!!!
I put 2 bags of my no longer used sewing odds and ends in the car today and stopped at a lady's home, who does some repairs for me now and told her I was recycling and would she like to have that stuff for free. She smilled great big and said "Well, this is a nice surprise". Made both of us feel better.
I felt so good, making someone else felt so good, that I decided I would load up a bunch of DH old concert videos he no longer watches and donate them to the local Library. I asked them about it today and they said they never turn down donations.
I was really feeling proud of myself this evening.
Good for you Imohr. One of my daughters is a thrower outer. Yips at me for hanging on to things I don't need. A while ago we were in my garage and I found a large box of paper stuff from an old job. She harangued me to throw it out and I did. Guess what-She is a new job and she and her co-workers could really use the stuff now. Now-what do I do with a bunch of old cell phones that probably still work. I heard there is a program where they can be swapped for calling cards for our military but can't find any group to take them. Any ideas?
Maybe call your local chamber of commerce and see if any local businesses are collecting them. In my neighborhood there is a auto repair business that collects old cellphones and donates them to the military.
As for old cell phones, an abused Women's shelter will take them, They don't hook up service but a cell phone can be charged and used to call 911 without being serviced by a cell phone service provider.
I know verizon collect them, and I think they donate them for that benefit as well.