He has a hoarding disorder, he is disabled with back pain, he really can’t declutter things on his own in his apartment , it is unsafe & the situation is just really stressful. , I’ve tried everything by calling a few hotlines but nothing has helped because they suggest to call APS and I’ve heard they only make things worse like by isolating elderly people but I don’t want him to feel like a prisoner . I am concerned for his living conditions he can’t afford to hire a professional to clean up, they’re offering him $5k but it’s too expensive for him he’s on disability insurance does anyone have any ideas what he can do??
I would contact his local area's Agency on Aging to see if there are charitable organizations that may provide clean-up services for needy seniors. Another option may be to contact a local church to see if they have a ministry that may provide volunteers for a 1-time clean-up of him apartment. Clean up should only happen if he is actively going to therapy and making progress. If not, he's wasting everyone's time and endangering their health with his mess.
I'm wondering why his therapist hasn't suggested a clean-up resource, but maybe this is seen as enabling? Something to ponder.
I have a nephew who has a similar problem. His is he can't clean up trash. Not garbage, trash. He has a neurological problem and physical problems. I have not been in his apt for over 2 yrs. Why, because every time I enter it, my chest tightens up. There is no reason for it. He uses the trash can but leaves the bags all over. He is not 30 ft from a dumpster right out the door. He had boxes from internet orders all over. (I can see them when I drop off stuff thru his sliding glass doors) when asked why he hasn't at least collapsed them, "I have snacks in them". He has a kitchen with lots of cabinets! I had this problem the whole time he lived with Mom. He had a room to himself besides a bedroom to watch TV. He had a kitchen size trashcan next to his chair. Never lined it with a bag. Plastic grocery bags all over the floor. I gave him a small trashcan with a lid to store them. Could not walk anything out to the kitchen or the mudroom where the garbage cans are. I was on him all the time, it got old. This is why his does not live with me. I can't imagine how things would have been if my sister had lived. She too was a slob. I could never understand how people can live this way.
Is there a way you can do a room at a time. Starting with what you would consider trash. Thats how I cleaned out my Moms and MILs place. We tackled what we could throw out first. Then we started on a room at a time. I chose the kitchen. First, the pantry. Lots of outdated. Then the frig, a 2 yr old roast. Then cabinets. Its not so overwhelming.
Even if (in a dream world) you were able to clean up his hoard can he realistically stay in his home with his bad back, little income and no help? Eventually he will have to find a different living situation anyway. I'm sorry that there are no satisfying solutions for this situation, just waiting to see what happens and NOT getting sucked into his disorder.
Until he gets treatment to deal with the hoarding disorder, nothing is going to work. It can be cleared completely out and he will start a new hoard the same day.
If it is so dangerous, then APS needs to be called. They probably won't do anything but, he will be on their radar for future events.
I don't know what you mean by "isolate seniors" regarding APS. Your friend needs psychiatric help. That might involve a stay in an inpatient unit.
Hoarding is a mental illness. Doing a cleanup will not help, he will hoard again.
Call APS to get him the psychiatric help he needs.