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www.oakvillebeaver.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Thursday, July 22, 2010 · 16 Health Oakville Beaver Hoarding secret explodes out of closet By Tina Depko METROLAND WEST MEDIA GROUP ries. If you met the friendly 71-year-old in the grocery store, she'd likely strike up a conversation. However, Wilma has a secret -- she is a hoarder. Seeing her Lakeshore Road apartment is the only way you would ever know this secret. Nearly every surface is covered and piled high with books, newspapers and magazines. Clutter is everywhere -- on coffee and dining room tables, couches, chairs, kitchen counters and even the floor. "I think I've done it (hoarding) all my life in one form or another," said Wilma, who asked that her real name not be published. "When I was really young, I would collect anything I could use for crafts. But I've always been collecting things. Part of it is I have a huge range of interests, so I have lots of little projects going here and there and they don't get put away. When I get stuck doing something, the newspapers and magazines pile up." The two bedrooms are also jampacked full of items. Wilma sleeps on the third of her bed not covered with books. "I ran into trouble when my husband died (18 years ago)," she said. "I started getting to the point where I W ilma is a happy-go-lucky senior with a lovely smile and a knack for telling sto- NIKKI WESLEY / OAKVILLE BEAVER TOO MUCH STUFF: Megan Tolan, a case manager with Halton Gatekeepers is seen here sorting through the possessions of Wilma, not her real name, a local hoarder who the agency is assisting. Tolan visits Wilma weekly to help her sort through her possessions. couldn't cope with it anymore. I just wanted to pull the sheet over my head and say `I can't do this.' I couldn't get out of bed." Over the years, the mess grew, taking over her apartment, with only narrow pathways allowing her to manoeuvre around her living space. With lower back, knee and foot problems, getting around was almost impossible and hazardous. When Wilma's superintendent found out about the mess last year, he threatened to call the health or fire department if something was not done. Looking to find a gentler solution, Wilma's neighbour, who is also a good friend, called various agencies and came upon the Gatekeepers program. The Gatekeepers program is offered through Catholic Family Services of Hamilton and funded by the Region of Halton. The program started in Hamilton in the summer of 2005, moving into Burlington and Oakville at the start of 2009. It recently expanded and is now being offered across Halton. Gatekeepers is geared towards those aged 55 and older. It aims to increase access to support services for vulnerable and at-risk seniors and prevent the need for other expensive services. There are more than 50 cases of hoarding to date in Burlington and Oakville. Of that number, 80 per cent of cases are from Burlington, with the remainder from Oakville. The gender statistics show that 75 per cent of clients are female. Now that the program is available across Halton, the number of regional cases is expected to climb. There were two caseworkers with the program in Halton, with an additional hire in June. The extra staff was needed, as the current case count in Halton is likely only the tip of the iceberg, according to Judit Zsoldos, team leader for the Seniors Intervention and Support Program at Catholic Family Services of Hamilton. "We're (over) 50 and that's good, but I know there are many other faces out there that need our attention," she said. "According to research, one in 2,000 seniors are hoarders." What many people don't realize is that hoarding is often a result of both physical and mental conditions, Zsoldos said. Lack of concern for living conditions Hoarding is often linked to a mental condition called Diogenes syndrome. It can also be connected to See Hoarders page 17