A growing number of my clients may have hoarding disorder. It's put this post in mind.
You walk into a house, hoping to sell it, and you know instantly that you can't. If you are able to talk to the homeowner, or someone close to the homeowner, such as a family member or estate trustee, you may be able to direct him/her to resources. But the resources are scarce: many specialists offer their services as volunteers, and are therefore constanty at their limits of their time and energy. Public assistance/funding is limited, and many, possibly most, people with hoarding disorder can't afford private assistance. There is a ray of light: hoarding disorder is now classified as a mental illness within the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5 (DSM-5), the publication used by mental health clinicians to attempt to consistently diagnose mental illness. This means that some insurers will sometimes cover some of the expenses associated with treatment for hoarding disorder.
The following "flow chart" of resources is specific to King County, Washington. Consider it a guideline for the kind of resources which may exist in your area. And there is discouraging news about helping people with hoarding disorder: many refuse help, and many slip back into hoarding habits after getting help. But people can be helped to safer, healthier, happier lives.
International/USA National Resources
ClutterCleaner
The Institute for Challenging Disorganization
1693 S Hanley Rd
St. Louis MO 63144
314-416-2236
icd@challengingdisorganization.org
challengingdisorganization.org/
International OCD Foundation Hoarding Center
International OCD Foundation
POB 961029
Boston, MA 02196
617-973-5801
National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO)
1120 Rt 73, Suite 200
Mount Laurel NJ 08054
856-380-6828
TLC network compilation of resources
http://www.tlc.com/tv-shows/hoarding-buried-alive/about-the-show/hoarding-resources-information.htm
Washington State Resources
Adult Protective Services
Local Resources
King-Pierce County Hoarding Task Force
WAtaskforce@thehoardingproject.org
National Association of Professional Organizers
Sound Mental Health
1600 East Olive Street
Seattle, WA 98122
206-302-2200
FAX: 206-302-2210
1 (800) 828-1449
www.smh.org
The Hoarding Project
A 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization
P.O. Box 7812
Tacoma, WA 98417-0812
The Institute for Challenging Disorganization
Various professional cleaning companies: google "hoarding clean-up"
Visiting Nurse Home Care
600 Birchwood Ave, Suite 100
Bellingham, WA 98225
1-800-551-1510
360-734-9662
425 Commercial Street, Suite 203
Mount Vernon, WA 98273
1-800-624-2714
360-416-0343
nurses@vnhomecare.org
City of Bellevue
Human Services Division
450 110th Ave. NE
PO Box 90012
Bellevue, WA 98009-9012
Phone: 425-452-6452
King County
Service Name: |
Senior Citizen/Disabled Persons Exemption Program |
Group Name: |
|
Description: |
RCW 84.36.381 grants property tax exemptions if your total annual income is $35,000 or less and if you are 61 years of age or older, or you are retired because of physical disability, or if you are a widow or widower at least 57 years of age whose spouse had an exemption at the time of his or her death. |
Web Link: |
http://www.kingcounty.gov/assessor/Exemptions/Exemptions.htm |
Keywords: |
seniors, senior citizens, disabled persons, property tax exemption |
King County Senior Services
Welcome to the Community Services page. Community Services manages a range of services to assist the county’s most vulnerable residents.
Examples of services include:
Health promotion, recreation, socialization and social services assistance for older adults.
Domestic violence and sexual assault services for women.
Service Name: |
Older Adult Services |
Group Name: |
Bottom of Form
DSHS Emergency Programs
Resources for the Families/Support Persons of People with Hoarding Disorder
Children of Hoarders
http://childrenofhoarders.com/wordpress/
The Hoarding Project
A 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization
P.O. Box 7812
Tacoma, WA 98417-0812
The Institute for Challenging Disorganization
1693 S Hanley Rd
St. Louis MO 63144
314-416-2236
icd@challengingdisorganization.org
challengingdisorganization.org/
International OCD Foundation Hoarding Center
International OCD Foundation
POB 961029
Boston, MA 02196
617-973-5801
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