geriatricsphilippines.org Blog

Hoarding

Some people will hoard or save numerous items, including dirty clothes, food, and papers. Losing a meaningful role in life, work, friends, family, and a good memory can have an impact on a person’s need to hoard and or to “keep things safe”. Hoarding in this population is oftentimes triggered by the fear of being robbed.

When working with persons who have dementia, it is essential that you keep their safety in mind. Order, routine and simplicity are most helpful. A house or room that is relatively uncluttered is the ideal environment.

Ten Tips to Consider

1. Let go of ideal notions of cleanliness. Your patient may value items that appear to you as worthless. Parting with their belongings (even used paper cups) can cause severe emotional distress.

2. Ask your patient if they can donate or sell their belongings to charity.

3. Focus on fall prevention. Create pathways free of debris, loose cords or slippery rugs. Some frail patients hold onto furniture or other items while moving through the room; preserve their “props” until other assistive devices (canes, walkers) can be introduced.

4. Focus on fire prevention. Red flags include newspapers stored on top of or inside a hazardous area.

5. Be creative and negotiate. Consider photographing belongings, as this may help the patient part with things and preserve memories.

6. Begin by reorganizing a small corner of a room, a single table, or just a section of the table.

7. Have a friend or relative present during a major cleanout, preferably one who already has a supportive relationship with the patient. Clean-outs can be overwhelming to people with severe hoarding behavior. Have a back-up plan in case emergency psychiatric services are needed.

8. Discuss how to safeguard valuables in the cleaning process. Have a written contract. Agree on what to do with valuables that turn up, such as money, jewelry, or collectibles.

9. Consider relocating an individual to a new room if the clutter is the result of physical or mental frailty. A new environment can provide a fresh start and enable the patient to receive needed services sooner.

10. Plan for on-going maintenance and supervision to maintain a decluttered environment.

Adapted From: Weill Medical College of Cornell University

14 March 2010 Pacquiao defeats Clottey thus winning the unanimous decision to retain his World Boxing Organization welterweight title and his status as the world’s finest boxer.

A little known fact about this champion boxer is how he knocked out the campaign against swine flu or AH1N1.

The Philippines was one of the last countries affected by swine flu, and it arrived at the time when the boxing great Manny Pacquiao won his match against Ricky Hatton.

In a few ads for swine flu prevention, he was even compared to the beneficial VCO or virgin coconut oil. For example, a blog in talkph.net quotes: “Former Agriculture Secretary and President of the Federation of Free Farmers Rep. Leonardo Montemayor says virgin coconut oil (VCO) has natural properties that boost the immune system to avoid catching the strain. “ In this blog taking VCO was likened to Pacquiao’s training and preparation for the Hatton boxing match. “He has to train very well, strengthen himself and his body. Ganun din tayo, we have to strengthen our immune system against this very deadly virus,” says Montemayor.

The flu awareness campaign would have triumphed if this champ was hired to promote flu prevention. However, there was a negative buzz generated by Pacquiao’s refusal to be quarantined.

In this blog by Sunstar Network:

“MANILA — Boxing champion Manny Pacquiao will return to Manila as scheduled, ignoring advice from Philippine health officials to observe self-quarantine in the United States to help prevent the spread of swine flu.”

The Department of Health and WHO advised Pacquiao and his group to observe self-quarantine after their return from Las Vegas, but the boxing champ and his party chose to ignore the advise and arrived at the airport shaking hands and hugging fans. Could this fearless boxer possibly be taking VCO?

Ask yourself these questions before following a health advise from a friend:

1. Is this person giving advise a friend or a salesperson?

2. Will I suffer from harm if I do not follow his/her health advise?

3. What kind of product or procedure is this person recommending?

4. What are the benefits?

a. what are the effects on my body/mind and are these the effects I desire?
b. how soon can the benefits be felt?
c. how long will the effects last?
d. how many in 10 who follow the advise will feel the benefit? how many in 100?
e. how many in 10 people tested represent my age group?

Watch out for testimonials or personal anecdotes! One person in ten may have benefited but you need to ask: “How many took the product? What happened to the nine others who took the product?”

5. Are there side effects or harmful outcomes?

how many in 10 persons will feel worse? how many in 100?

7. Will the cost/money/time I spend be worth the benefit?

8. Do I have enough information to make a wise health choice?

a. ask about scientific randomized trials or systematic reviews on the product or procedure in which all relevant studies are identified and those of adequate quality selected. Results from selected studies are usually pooled (using meta-analysis) to give the
best single estimate of effect.
b. ask for help from a trusted physician but avoid doctor shopping.
c. search trusted internet sites and peer reviewed medical journals.

Do your homework! Click any of these links for medical information on western and complementary medicine Medline Plus , the Cochrane Review of Complementary Medicine and Pubmed and the US Food and Drug Administration

Watch out for quacks and snake-oil salesmen!
You may be dealing with a quack if:
1. The information only includes stories of patients who benefit from the product.
2. You cannot obtain information on the number of people who do not improve after taking the product/procedure.
3. The advertiser is quiet about those who experience harmful side effects.

Reference: Irwig et al. Smart Health Choices. Allen and Unwin 1999.

[caption id=”attachment_271″ align=”aligncenter” width=”69″ caption=”Mercedes Concepcion, PhD”][/caption]
Dr. Concepcion was elected Academician by the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST), and was proclaimed National Scientist in January 2010. She obtained her B.Sc. degree in chemistry from UP in 1951 before pursuing Biostatistics at the School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine of the University of Sydney from 1953 to 1954 under the Colombo Plan fellowship. She obtained her PhD from the University of Chicago in 1963.

Dr. Concepcion was crucial in the establishment of the UP Population Institute (UPPI) in 1964, which was funded by the Ford Foundation. The UPPI was instrumental in the enactment of the Population Act of 1971.

In the last Annual Scientific Meeting of the NAST “Active Aging towards Quality Life” held July 8 and 9, 2009 at the Manila Hotel, she served as Steering Committee member and co-Chair of sessions on the sociological and demographic aspects of Aging. She played an important role in drafting the Resolution on Active Aging by the NAST.