The Atlanta Hoarding Task Force, directed by Judith Kolberg, works with local agencies to help hoarders throughout Atlanta.
Despite reality TV shows escalating hoarding to a nationally recognized illness, as well as making it more comfortable for hoarders to self report, Mary Minter of Sandy Spring did not seek help.
Today the Sandy Spring woman was found living in chest-high debris, one of the worst incidences of hoarding seen in the metro Atlanta area to date.
Despite repeated attempts from neighbors, help was slow coming to Minter. Reportedly neighbors had issued numerous complaints about the state of her yard and reported her to code enforcement. Just last week, she was served with a ticket and code enforcement officers tried to reach her to no avail.
Finally, today the situation escalated after a 911 call. Firefighters took 40 minutes to remove the woman from her debris-strewn home. She is now in intensive care at Northside Hospital.
Authorities at the scene had to wear protective gear and later go through de-contamination procedures. Reportedly there were also animals in the home and the smell was overpowering. The house is now condemned.
According to Ms. Kolberg, Acting Director of the Atlanta Hoarding Task Force (AHTF) and also an award winning professional organizer, author and speaker on hoarding, hoarders statistically tend to be 50 or over. Seeing the illness to such a serious degree in the case of the 38-year old Sandy Spring woman is exceptional.
Generally, Ms. Kolberg states, it “takes decades of hoarding for it to become a safety and health issue.” There are, however, other health issues correlating with hoarding tendencies that can exacerbate the condition – primarily dementia or depression.
Kolberg has seen a wide spectrum of the illness – from animal hoarders to people who hoard inanimate objects whether new or used. Many hoarders report a feeling of rescuing their objects or animals and protecting them from danger.
For help with hoarding, contact the Atlanta Hoarding Task Force. The AHTF will be following up with the Minter case.
Comments
Geez I knew I had to start throwing or giving my excess stuff away. My mother in law was a little like her.
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