Last month we went into a home of an 85 year old disabled woman that was a level 4 on the ICD hoarding scale.
When she called she stated she had no family nearby, and that she was afraid for her safety after she had fallen . it was hours before she could regain her strength and pull herself up. She was terrified I would call protective services, and I assured her we are NOT state mandated and that I was there to help. She finally gave us her address after 45 minutes on the phone.
The front yard was unkempt, the blinds in the window were twisted together bound by dust and mold. Inside, cobwebs decorated the home like giant sheets of cotton candy and the smell of rotten food was beyond overwhelming. Trash was waist high, and very narrow pathways allowed access into the home. One of the two bedrooms was completely blocked by garbage and debris.
It was the first time ANYONE had been invited in for over 10 years and she was clearly defensive and embarrassed.
Through the pain in her eyes we connected and I knew she was willing to accept the help.
Our team worked 2 days and from top to bottom the place was spotless and sanitary. All trash was hauled. We were able to salvage quite a bit and organized her remaining possessions where she could reach them. It took myself, Tony, Cedric, three house cleaners and 100 contractor bags to restore the home.
She was honory at times, making sure we threw nothing out of importance. We sifted through her items carefully and meticulously, finding cash and checks mixed in with the garbage. She kept us laughing with her constant stories about her life as a young actress in the 50's. Before her husband had died she was quite the high roller.
I realized that the majority of her mess was because of her not being able to bend or lift. Years of being plagued with arthritis left her in a major depression. She had no children or family to help her. Besides two friends at the senior center - she knew no one.
By posting an ad online, we found a trustworthy neighbor who could come by to take out her trash and help around the house at an affordable rate. Her home was in such good condition after we were done, the neighbor never knew of the chaos before. Miriam was proud to have help in her new clean home. We set her up on our monthly maintenance plan in order to ensure her success. This includes phone calls and visits.
I spoke with her last night, and she is having a friend over today to visit. We are very excited for her!
My point of this blog is that no one should have to live in squalor. There is help for those who suffer from hoarding disorder.
We did not come in and throw everything out with shovels and bags, instead we created an organic plan to ensure our clients success.
Collector Cares goal is to restore your home and help you maintain it, so that you never have to suffer again.
We are here for you!
Discreet, honest and professional, we pride ourselves on creating custom clutter solutions for our clients.
www.collectorcare.com 925-548-7750
We offer free estimates!
No comments:
Post a Comment