Mental Health Support

She had always been a collector of antiques, books and other items, but as she aged and dementia took over, she became a hoarder.

It was very difficult for us family members who were trying to care for her. It didn't help that her sister - also a hoarder - would send her stuff through the mail and take her to flea markets.

Finally, her dementia reached a point where I had to take over her finances and she had to move to assisted living. This turned off most of the new acquisitions (except boxes from her sister, which I had delivered to my house so I could separate useful things from junk before taking it over to mom), but hoarding includes other habits, like hiding soiled clothes, not bathing, etc. She would hide her phone and forget where it was, etc.

It was a nightmare.