Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 11:36 pm Post subject: Senile Squalor Syndrome.
"A typical scene which must be familiar to many doctors, social workers, district health nurses and members of the public is that of a reclusive elderly person living alone in a dilapidated filthy house. The home is cluttered with rubbish and infested with vermin. Excrement and decomposing food are strewn around the floors and the stench emanating is unbearable to all but the occupant who is blissfully unconcerned by the situation. Diogenes syndrome, variously known as senile breakdown [1], social breakdown [2] and senile squalor syndrome [3], refers to this condition and is characterized by extreme self-neglect, domestic squalor and social withdrawal and is often accompanied by excessive hoarding (syllogomania) and lack of concern about one's living conditions. The estimated annual incidence is 5 per ten thousand of the population aged over 60 years living at home, at least half of whom will have dementia or some form of mental illness [1, 4-6]. Most old age psychiatrists have some experience in managing this condition. The term was first suggested by Clarke et al. [4] and has been in common usage since. Clarke did not define it operationally and there has been some confusion as to whether it is inclusive or exclusive of those with underlying mental illness or dementing disorder. Severe breakdown in standards of personal and environmental hygiene has also been described in younger adults [6, 7] and there seems to be no rationale for confining the term to elderly people."
The reason why I have posted the above, (an extract from "Age and Ageing" 1995 by Colm Coony) is due to a sad article I was reading on the Daily Mail website today about an elderly man whose neglect of his mentally ill wife, resulted in her death.
I found this rather tragic that in the 21st century, something like this can still happen without people realising it.
However, the gist of my article is that "Senile Squalor Syndrome" or more correctly known in medical circles as "Diogines Syndrome" is not that uncommon among elderly people who live alone. In fact, some people entering my home for the first time could be forgiven thinking that I suffer from something similar.
Why? Because I am a "Horder". My "collecting" has become rather overwhelming. I have masses of old Railway magazines, and still continue buying them, I have over 3000 Long Playing records, and still buy more, sometimes even failing to realise that I already have another copy (or two) in my collection.
I collect Diecast model cars, vans, and buses. I have so many that a lot now are packed away and stored in cartons because I have run out of space to display them all.
Along with piles of video tapes, music cassettes, books, and CD's/DVD's, I have really become a proper hoarder.
So far, though, thankfully, I have not fallen into the self-neglect catagory.
I keep myself and my home clean if not exactly tidy.
Mind you, the last thing I would want is any outside busy-bodies poking their noses in.
I am the other end of the scale I hate clutter,but do understand we all have different methods someone else's rubbish is another's gold, I also read that story Sandie it was very sad,but did't I read that they had family? and if so what were they doing about this awful situation
Sorry, Browneyes, no you can't. Now go away and leave me alone, otherwise I'll set my dog on you........ooops, forgot, don't have one now, do I, unless........she's hiding behind that big pile of videos and magazines over in the far corner. _________________ http://sewardchronicles.ning.com/
dont you dare tell me to go away naughty.........or i will set my dog on you,shes the same size as a large cat,14 years old and deaf but she barks most of the time so that should be enough to run away
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