Arts and Crafts for the Elderly--How to Turn Hoarding into Crafting

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What is all This Trash?

20,000 plastic bags. A hundred balls of aluminum foil. Gift wrap saved for decades. Stacks of empty bowls, jars and other containers.

This is what you may see in the home of an elderly hoarder. Hoarding is a complex psychological condition, and I'm not going to go into detail about the many stages and levels here. I will however, break down the simple kinds of hoarding so frequently seen in the elderly.

I've rarely visited the home of an older person and not found some strange items hidden back. For the most part, the reasons for saving "stuff" fell under these three categories:

• If I throw it away, I might need it later. 
• Throwing it away is a waste of money.
• I can't throw it away, so-and-so gave it to me. 

All are valid reasons, to a degree. That is what makes it hard for caregivers to step in and start throwing accumulated junk away. Especially when it causes their loved one distress. Still, when it comes time to move that loved one from their own home to either their caregivers home or to a LTC facility, facing down the mess is inevitable. 

How to Clean Up Without a Fight

Luckily, there are some easy ways to tackle hoarding. It does take patience, empathy, and compromise though. When we cleaned up my grandmother's possessions, we faced the devastating task of sorting through a lifetime worth of hoarded items. 

Hoarding does have its dangers. There was food with expiration dates ten years old. There were closets full of clothes and linens infested with mildew. There was evidence of mice in forgotten boxes and drawers. Therefore, on certain items, we just had to stand firm and say "This is trash. It is dangerous."

However, if it wasn't unhealthy, we packed it up and moved it to storage. Storage is a great solution because that means the stuff isn't "gone". It is still there, and can be used if it is "needed". This calmed down the distress over waste too. 

Well, that was easy enough with knick-knacks, furniture, and enough kitchen ware for forty families that had accumulated under the guest bed. But what about the bags, boxes, bows, gift wrap, sewing materials, and other items? 

Compromise has its limits and we weren't going to pack boxes full of Walmart bags for storage. So...what can you do with all that stuff? 

Get Creative, Get Crafty

Boredom is a major complaint among the elderly who can no longer live independently. When it isn't safe for them to do the tasks they enjoy or simply did everyday, they can become morose and even depressed. 

Turning all that trash into craft projects took care of two issues at the same time. By coming up with some easy-to-do craft projects, we repurposed tons of what was basically garbage. Plus, my grandmother didn't feel anxious about losing these items, because they were being "put to good use". Meaning we were making useful items from them. And of course, crafting is a good way to pass time and still be productive, something that many elders worry about. 

Here are some of the ways we upcycled hoarded items into useful craft projects: 

Clothes 

For some reason,  my grandmother had sacks and sacks of clothes that were several sizes too big for her. We carefully cut these down for sewing projects. She can no longer sew herself, but she was willing to do the prep work and give advice on the finished projects. 

• potholders
• draft stoppers
• bean bags
• rice bags
• lap quilts
• pillows

Plastic Bags

We discreetly threw away any soiled bags or food wrappers that had been saved. Shopping bags were cut into strips which she could braid. Once they were braided, they could be sewn into doilies, mats, and rugs. 

Bags are also great stuffing for draft stoppers and pet beds. (my cat loves the crinkly texture.) We used numerous bags to stuff Halloween scarecrows and pumpkin bags too. Later, they could be thrown away without anyone noticing.

Mismatched Kitchen Items

These quickly became garden decor or storage containers. Odd flatware makes cool windchimes, jars can be made into solar lights, pots and kettles make great flower planters.

Paper and Cardboard

Although there isn't much you can do with Christmas bows that have been squashed for eons, gift paper can be turned into holiday collages. Gift bags can be cut down and and used as matting behind photos, as framed holiday art, or as decoupage material. 

Cardboard containers (53 oatmeal canisters!) can be covered in paper or painted to make caddies and organizers. They also turn into great holiday decorations with a little love. Thanks to spray can triggers, even someone with arthritis can help paint. 

Creative Fibbing and Relocation

Sometimes it is hard to find a solution. No one could think of a good way to use the hundreds of butter and Cool Whip bowls. A few yes, but hundreds? Rather than just saying "Hey, we are pitching these." we had people come in and say they really needed them for some project or another. 

This might not work with some people, but my grandmother was okay with the items going to new homes. She just didn't want them wasted. Many items DID get thrown away, but she never knew. Personally, I think this is an ideal solution, because no one gets upset. It just takes a little work. 

Then there was the issue of freezer bags and shoe boxes filled with odds and ends. Once the odds and ends were sorted, there was a reluctance to let the bags and boxes go, even though they were filthy and tattered. Replacing them with dollar store baskets and plastic containers turned out to be a great solution. Mostly because of the psychological impact. We had spent money on the new containers, therefore it would be a bigger waste not to use them. Plus, they protected the contents better. 

Like I said, these solutions may not work for everyone. Different individuals have their own reasons for hoarding, and it can be very difficult for caregivers to negotiate. If your elderly loved one refuses help, or becomes overly distressed, it may be time to speak with a doctor. 

Tips: 

• Don't turn crafting into a chore in order to get the stuff out of the way. Keep the supplies on hand and so that projects can be worked on at leisure. 

• Take time to sit down and craft along with your loved one. 

• Any projects that can't be used can be donated to those in need. Help your loved one make gift baskets and deliver them to homes or churches. 

• Always supervise the use of scissor or sharp tools in the hands of those with dementia, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's or vision disorders. 

• Try keeping  a table near a well-lit window so that your loved one has a relaxing place to work, and where their materials won't be disturbed.