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THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – Friday, August 16, 2019 Page 19 S by Jim Miller How to Help an Aging Parent with a Hoarding Problem Dear Savvy Senior, My 70-year-old mother has become somewhat of a hoarder. Since my father died a few years ago, her house is so disorganized and messy with stuff that it’s becoming a hazard. What should I do to help her? Troubled Son Dear Troubled, Clutter addiction is a problem that effects up to five percent of Americans, many of whom are seniors. The problems can range anywhere from moderate messiness to hoarding so severe it may be related to a mental health disorder like obsessive-compulsive disorder. Here’s what you should know, along with some tips and resources that can help your mom. Why People Hoard The reasons most people hoard is because they have an extreme sentimental attachment to their possessions, or they believe they might need their items at a later date. Hoarding can also be a sign that an older person is depressed or showing early symptoms of dementia. Common problems for seniors who live in excessive clutter are tripping, falling and breaking a bone; overlooking bills and missing medications that are hidden in the clutter; and suffering from the environmental effects of mold, mildew and dust, and even living among insects and rodents. What to Do To get a handle on your mom’s problem, the Institute for Challenging Disorganization offers a free “Clutter Hoarding Scale” that you can download off their website at ChallengingDisorganization.org. If you find that your mom has a moderate cluttering problem, there are a number of things you can do to help. Start by having a talk with her, respectfully expressing your concern for her health and safety, and offering your assistance to help her declutter. If she takes you up on it, most professional organizers recommend decluttering in small steps. Take one room at a time or even a portion of a room at a time. This will help prevent your mom from getting overwhelmed. Before you start, designate three piles or boxes for your mom’s stuff – one pile is for items she wants to keep-andput-away, another is the donate pile and the last is the throwaway pile. You and your mom will need to determine which pile her things belong in as you work. If your mom struggles with sentimental items that she doesn’t use, like her husband’s old tools or mother’s china for example, suggest she keep only one item for memory sake and donate the rest to family members who will use them. You will also need to help her set up a system for organizing the kept items and new possessions. Find Help If you need some help with the decluttering and organizing, consider hiring a professional organizer who can come to your mom’s home to help you prioritize, organize and remove the clutter. The nonprofit group National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals has a directory on the website at NAPO.net to help you locate a professional in your area. If your mom has a bigger, more serious hoarding problem (if her daily functioning is impaired, or if she is having financial difficulties, health problems, or other issues because of her hoarding) you’ll need to seek professional help. Antidepressants and/or talk therapy can help address control issues, anxiety, depression, and other feelings that may underline hoarding tendencies, and make it easier for her to confront her disorder. To learn more and find professional help see the International OCD Foundation which provides a hoarding center on their website (Hoarding.iocdf.org) that offers information, resources, treatments, self-help groups, and more. Also see HoardingCleanup.com, a site that has a national database of qualified resources including cleaning companies and therapists that can help. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. Obituaries Anthony Cieri D ied early Saturday morning at Melrose-Wakefield hos - pital sur - rounded by his family. He was the husband of Margaret R. (Izzo) Cieri with whom he shared 51 years of marriage. Born in Winthrop and raised in East Boston, he was the son of the late Domenic and Theresa (Basillio) Cieri. A Vietnam U.S. Army veteran, Anthony worked for many years as a Route Sales Driver for Pepsi-Cola. He loved carpentry, cruising, gardening, cooking, grocery shopping and watching sports on television. His greatest memories were of spending time with family and friends; especially with his four grandsons whom he adored. Besides his wife, he is survived by two children; Anthony Cieri Jr. and his wife Rachel of Saugus, Kim Waugh and her husband Joseph of Peabody. He was the grandfather of Anthony III, Domenic, Nicholas, & Michael and brother of Marie Casale of Peabody, Josephine Emar of Saugus. Dorothy J. McDonough O f Taunton, forme r l y o f Saugus, August 9. Beloved mother of Craig McDonough & his wife Jamie of New Bedford. Dear grandmother of Ashley McDonough & John Agudelo. Great grandmother of Caleb & Aubree. Daughter of the late Norbert & Blanche (St. John) LaVoie. Dear sister of Maureen LaVoie, Christine LaVoie & Audrey Patch & her husband Harold all of Saugus. Cherished partner of the late Daniel O’Brien. Loving aunt of Harold III, Justin, Darcy & Jillian Patch & the late Jennifer Prezioso. Nothing was more important to Dorothy than her family and friends. She was the happiest when spending time with those she loved, preparing our favorite dishes and sharing good laughs. Her quiet, warm natured charity will be profoundly missed. A memorial mass will be held in Taunton at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the American Cancer Society at cancer.org. James R. McDonough f Saugus, formerly of East Boston - Mr. James R. McDonough, age 73, died O at his residence on Sunday, August 11, 2019. He was the loving husband of Roberta (Mercurio) McDonough. Born and raised in East Boston, he was the son of the late Thomas and Helen (Clough) McDonough. James had worked as a Long Shoreman for over 20 years for ILA. In addition to his wife, James leaves his daughter, Jodie McDonough and her husband Matthew DeAmelio of Lynn; his son, Jay McDonough and his companion Beth Allen of Norwood; four grandchildren, Bella, Talia, Madi and Cam; one brother, Kenney McDonough of Stoneham; three sisters, Joan Spadorcia of Danvers, Patti Dellorfano of East Boston, Marylou McDonough of East Boston. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by one brother, Thomas McDonough and one sister, Helen McDonough. In lieu of flowers, donations in his name may be made to Care SOUNDS | from page 13 ing on at the Saugus Public Library – for people of all ages – from young children to senior citizens. Here are a few events to check out: Nature and gardening: Aug. 27 at 3:30 p.m.; planting and tasting! Art and Nature: Aug. 20 at 3:30 p.m. Create beautiful artwork using a variety of materials found in nature. The Saugus Public Library’s Adult Summer Reading Program ends on Monday (Aug. 19). For more info: Saugus Public Library: 295 Central St., Saugus, MA 01906; 781-231-4168 or sauguspubliclibrary.org. Friendship Storytime on Fridays: This special program for children, which begins at 9:30 a.m., is sponsored by the Coordinated Family Community Engagement Grant. It can help parents nurture their child’s social and early literacy skills with structured storytime. Let’s Get Ready For Kindergarten Playgroup! This program, which is sponsored by the Coordinated Family Community EnDimensions, 75 Sylvan Street, Danvers, MA 01923, www. caredimensions.org/giving. Funeral from the funeral home on August 16, 2019 at 9 a.m. followed by a funeral mass in Blessed Sacrament Church, 14 Summer St., SAUGUS, at 10 a.m. Rose M. (Cimino) Modica A ge 80, of Saugus, formerly of Revere, passed away on Sunday, August 11, 2019. Rose had a long successful career at Towle Mfg. in East Boston. After her retirement, Rose went on to be a part time secretary at St. Mary’s Church Revere. She became an active member of the St. Mary’s community and the St. Vincent De Paul Society. Rose was the loving mother of Maureen Perisie and her husband Richard of Peabody, and Michael Modica of Saugus, formerly of Revere. Dear sister of Phyllis Iudica and her husband Robert of Saugus, and the late Michael Cimino. Adored grandmother of Richard Perisie and his husband Adam Cavagnaro of San Francico, and Jennifer Sacchetti and her husband John of Hanover, MA. Cherished great grandmother of Bennet, Madelyn, and Maxwell. Also survived by many loving nieces, nephews, and cousins. Family and friends will gather in Vazza’s “”Beechwood”” Funeral Home, 262 Beach Street, REVERE on Friday, August 16 from 4PM to 8PM and again at 9AM Saturday morning before leaving in procession to St. Mary of the Assumption Church in Revere for a Funeral Mass to be celebrated in her honor at 10AM. Interment will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery in Everett. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to NAMI at 3803 Fairfax Dr. Suite 100 Arlington, VA 22203. gagement Grant, has summer hours on Wednesdays at 4:30 p.m. It’s recommended for children ages three through five. Children’s Library Director Amy Melton said that she has some fresh titles that kids are enjoying, and “Saugus Public Schools are getting students to read about the American Revolution and Massachusetts history.” Speaking of reading, New England Patriots’ star receiver Julian Edelman, who received the Most Valuable Player Award in this year’s Super Bowl victory, is trying to make some friends at the library. He does children’s SOUNDS | SEE PAGE 20

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