Compulsive Hoarding and the Elderly Patient

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COMPULSIVE HOARDING AND THE ELDERLY PATIENT 1 Compulsive Hoarding and the Elderly Patient Compulsive Hoarding and the Elderly Patient 2 Compulsive Hoarding and the Elderly Patient I. Introduction of the topic Hoarding is a multifaceted problem that stems from several deficits or difficulties. (Steketee et al., 2001) Hoarding is more likely to be a problem when a person ages because people tend to have more difficulties managing their collections of items. As the older population continues to expand in the United States the nurses, social workers and other medical professions will encounter the conduct and behavior of the hoarder. Many nurses do not have the expertise in dealing with this issue but it is now in the spot light because of media coverage (Steketee et al., 2001). There are reality television shows such as Buried Alive on Time Life Channel (TLC) that has increased attention to hoarding by the public and researchers are beginning to understand the consequences. Nurses can intervene on their client’s behalf while considering the needs of the hoarder’s family and community. Hoarding may be a symptom – one that is commonly encountered in Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) or a syndrome. As a symptom, hoarding demonstrates an early age-of-onset, as an association with obsessions and compulsions and frequently presents itself with moods and anxiety disorders. As a possible syndrome, hoarding symptoms appear unrelated to Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), tend to culminate in old age; and may be associated with childhood adversity, various personality disorder traits, and alcohol dependence. (Sansone & Sansone, 2010). Compulsive Hoarding and the Elderly Patient 3 II. Description of the person My client was admitted to the hospital two weeks ago with the diagnosis of respiratory distress,

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