Looking for ideas...

[hooterhorse]

Hello,

I am curious to learn more about hoarding behavoirs. In particular, I am working with a Down's syndrome resident that also has Alzheimers. His hoarding behavoirs have worsened to the point where he is now invading other residents rooms, rumaging and pilfering. His major obsessions are newspapers and eyeglasses. Staff are not in the position to shadow him constantly. He also likes to undress and wear only his underwear. That behavior has been allowed when he is in his room, but he frequently undresses and comes to the day room in his underwear. Not sure if his continual and worsening behaviors are an attempt to gain attention or if it's a progression of his demetia disease process. I've read where hoarding is sometimes considered a facet of OCD, but then again....it's considered a part of the Alzheimers progression and has nothing to do with OCD and meds geared toward OCD would not be warrented.

Any thoughts on this? How about possible interventions to address his behaviours? Where can I learn more on hoarding behaviors?

Hooterhorse

[PsychNurseWannaBe, BSN, RN]

Hello Hooterhorse,

This website might help shed some light. It discusses the differences between compulsive hoarding and non-compulsive hoarding. http://www.ocfoundation.org/hoarding/treatment/neurobiology-and-medication-treatment-of-compulsive-hoarding.php

This website had some great info on Alzheimer's and the impact of functional decline. http://www.helpguide.org/elder/alzheimers_disease_symptoms_stages.htm

For more information on how to help with this client's behavior, consider the following nursing diagnoses.

Disturbed thought processes

Wandering

Chronic confusion

[smallrice]

:nono:there is something like delusion or psychotic symtoms disturbing Alzheimer's patient... may be some low dose anti-psychtic drug can be helpful for this patient...