My mother in-law is a compulsive horder. Her house is simply unbelievable, it boggles the mind to even comprehend the extent of it. Goat trails through the junk, 'food' in the fridge from years ago, mountains of jars and cans from the 70's, mountains and mountains of junk mixed with old antiques. There is a piano somehwere in their lounge but you would not know it, it has been swallowed by the mess. Rats, mice, rot, mold...On the 5 point scale of hording it would be up near a 4 sans human feaces.
Anyway I've started pushing for the family to do something. Mainly because it is like a dark cloud over the whole family and it affects my kids. It is sad that they will never go to their grandmothers house. My father-inlaw has kind of given up long ago. Also it will be good for my wife if something happens. Having grown up in that environment I think there is still a lot of hurt, also a lot of anger at the rest of the family for knowing about it but not doing anything.
My mother-in-law is a real battle axe though, I think it is fueled by her complulsions - the denial, the blinders, the rationalisations, the excuses etc.. My 3 year old seems to be the only one to really stand up to her to her face. It is a joy to watch.
Anyway I've discovered that I can get our city councill to give her a clean up order under the health act, hire someone to do it if the family doesn't and hook us up with other support organisations.
I have no illusions that she might actually get better, and is probably going end up being hospitalised from the stress of a forced clean up but I think it will be better for the family to get some resolution. I suspect the house would need to be bulldosed after.
Anyone else have any experience with horders? It is a really sad illness. I can't imagine the anxiety of it. My mother-in-law is a smart woman, went off and got a degree and a professional job at a time when women just did not do that. Her compulsions have mared her life like bad disease and it has priority over anything else including her own kids.
My wife has memories of toast with chunks taken out of it (mould) - soup with maggots in it ("they are just noodles")....
