Encore: Cluttered 1

Transcript

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It's just passed on in a quiet neighborhood, of Willowbrook estates where Helen Rutledge lives. DeeDee her caregiver arrives for the usual morning. Check-in. But today is different. As she unlocks the door to Helen's house. She's met, not by the usual greeting, but by silence. A silence that quickens her pulse and sharpens her senses. Helen. Helen is D D. Are you all right? No response. She navigates through the narrow paths, flanked by towering stacks of newspapers. Boxes and whatnot that feel the home. Like cavern Walls, the air is stale. Heavy with a weight of undisturbed years. In the living room DeeDee defines Helen on the floor. Conscious. But clearly in distress. Without hesitation, DeeDee grabs the phone and dials nine one one, her voice steady, despite the panic client at her insides. 9 1 1. What's your emergency? Hello, my name is DeeDee D. I need an ambulance sent to one, four or five Cedar lane in Willowbrook estates. It's urgent. My client has fallen and she might be having a stroke or something more serious. She's conscious, but very weak. Okay. DeeDee D I'm sending paramedics to 1, 4, 5 Cedar lane. Can you tell me more about her condition? How old is she and the symptoms she is showing. She's 82. Her name is Helen Rutledge. She's very pale, sweaty. And her speech is a bit slurred. She was on the floor when I found her, I've got her sitting up now, but she's not well. Okay, you're doing great. DeeDee D is she breathing normally? Yes, she's breathing, but it looks labored I'm really worried. Please hurry. They're on their way. Now, is there anything blocking the entrance to the house or any hazards that the responders. I need to know, needs to be aware of. Um, Yeah, it's important. Her, her house has a lot of clutter. I mean, it's really packed. The paramedics will need to navigate through some narrow paths. It might be hard to get a stretcher in quickly without moving some of the things around. Understood. I'm noting that down for the paramedics is crucial that they know. What to expect. DeeDee can you stay on the line with me and keep checking her symptoms? Let me know if there's any changes to her condition. Oh, yeah, of course. I'll stay with her and keep you updated. Please tell them to hurry. They're on their way. As fast as they can. You're doing everything right. Just keep her comfortable and try not to move her too much. We'll stay on the line until help arrives. Thank you so much. I can hear sirens now they're getting close. Good. They should be there any moment. I want you to go ahead and open the door for them. Make sure there's a clear path to Helen if you can manage that quickly. Okay. I'm heading to the door. Now, the path is narrow. But I've cleared it a bit while we're talking. Perfect. DeeDee when they arrive, just lead them straight to Helen and step back and let them work. They might need space to assess her condition and prepare for transport. I understood. I'm opening the door now. The door's open and I see the ambulance pulling up there here. Excellent. I'll stay on the line until they're with you and Helen, make sure to let them know everything that you told me about her condition and the environment. Will do. Here they come now. She's in here. Please be careful with the clutter. I've done my best to clear the way. Thank you. Ma'am we'll take it from here. DeeDee it sounds like they've got her now. You did a great job. We'll take it from here. You can hang up the phone and talk directly with the paramedics. Thank you so much for your help. Goodbye. You're welcome goodbye. DeeDee hi, I'm Jake. And this is my partner. Liz, you called about a fall Yes. Thank you. Thank you for coming so quickly. It's Helen she's inside. She's conscious, but she's very weak and had a fall. Please watch your step. The house has a lot of stuff in it. The paramedics step into Helen's home, their eyes quickly scan in the environment, the narrow path. caved through the stacks of newspapers, books and various collected items. Present an immediate challenge. The air is stale thick with dust and undisturbed piles that loom like silent sentinels. We'll clear a path to bring the stretcher in. Can you help guide us to her Of course, follow me. Is this way. Jake and Liz follow DeeDee each step is measured, their eyes constantly assessing. The stability of the piles around them. The clutter is not just a physical barrier. Is maze that speaks volumes about Helen's long, complicated journey with hoarding. She's in the living room, just here. As a retailer and she's sitting in a worn. Recliner. Surrounded by towers of belongings that both isolate and insulate her from the outside world, her face shows and mix of embarrassment. A relief as she sees the paramedics. I'm sorry for the mess. No worries at all, Helen, we're here to help not judge. Can you tell me where it hurts? I don't really hurt. I just feel weak, dizzy, like. When I try to stand. We're going to take good care of you, Helen we'll need to get you to the hospital to make sure everything is okay. With precision and respect. Jake and Liz worked to secure Helen on a portable stretcher. They're gentle, but efficient, well versed in handling complex situations with empathy and expertise. The path back through the house is slow. as they carefully navigate. Helen out of her sheltered world into a waiting ambulance. As the ambulance doors closed behind Helen and the paramedics, the clutter at home remained silent. They stark reminder of the life. Helen has lived and the challenges she continues to face. Let's pause, explore the world. Helen has constructed within her home. A world defined. By hoarding. It's the um, uh, Um, Uh, transcript. What drives a person to feel every space to cling to every object. To understand we needed. We'll dive into the psychology of hoarding, a disorder that complicates many lives far beyond simple clutter. Hoarding disorder is characterized. By individuals, persistent difficulty discarding or parting with possessions, regardless of their actual value. This behavior can lead to clutter that disrupts their ability to use they're living or workspaces For someone like Helen, every item has a memory. A story. Or potential use that makes it seemingly indispensable. Expert believed the hoarding is often triggered by traumatic events or periods of intense stress. Loss, whether it's a death of a loved one divorce or even a transition into retirement can provoke a hoarding response. Items can become emotional anchors, providing comfort or a sense of control in a rule that seems otherwise chaotic. But hoarding is not just about emotional attachment. Anxiety plays a huge role. The thought of throwing something away can cause severe stress. What if it's needed later? This anxiety can be paralyzing. Making it impossible to de-clutter. In Helen's case her home became a sanctuary. And her prison. The item she collected over the years, encapsulated her joys, her sorrows, her fears. But the paths through her house narrowed. So to do the disconnection. With the outside world. What started as a collection transformed into an impenetrable barrier of belongings. The physical risk of hoarding are significant. Fire hazards. Health complications from mold and dust injuries from tripping and falling, are just a few of the dangers, but the psychological impact loneliness. Social isolation and shame can be just as debilitating. addressing hoarding requires compassion and understanding is not a matter of simple cleaning up. It's about addressing the underlying issues, providing support and often professional mental health care. As we've returned to Helen and DeeDee in route to the hospital, we carry with us a deeper understanding of the challenges hoarding presents. It's a complex disorder. One that requires patience. Empathy and often a gentle hand to guide those like Helen back to a safer, healthier way of living. Back in the present in the emergency room, doctors worked to stabilize Halen. Meanwhile, DeeDee he speaks with social workers about the condition at Helen's home? It's a difficult conversation. One that touches on delicate issues of autonomy, mental health, and safety. Dr. Martinez approaches DeeDee with a clipboard. Are you the one that came in with Helen Rutledge. Yes, I'm DeeDee I'm her caregiver. How is she doing doctor? She's stable. Now we run some tests and it looks like she had a mild stroke. We're keeping her for observation, but thankfully you got her here quickly. We're starting her. On medication to manage her symptoms and prevent further incidents. That's a relief to hear. Will there be any longterm effects? It's too early to say for certain strokes can vary greatly in their impact. We'll know more once we've had a full neurological evaluation. Given her age and this event. We'll need to discuss her living conditions, specifically the hoarding situation that the paramedics mentioned to me. It's imperative for her safety, that her living environment is addressed. I understand. I've been trying to help with that. I'll do whatever I can to assist in her recovery and make her home safer. That's good to hear. We'll have our social work team. Speak with you about resources and support services available. It's important that she have a safe environment to return to. Thank you, Dr. Martinez. I'll be here to help coordinate everything. DeeDee calls, Helens son, Robert. Hello? Hello, Robert. This is DeeDee your mother's caregiver. Hi, Deedee. I heard from the hospital. How's mom doing now. She's stable now. Thankfully it was a mild stroke, but she's receiving excellent care. The doctors are optimistic about her treatment plan. Ooh, that's a relief. I feel so helpless being so far away, what can I do to prevent this from happening again? The doctor has mentioned that you need to address the hoarding in her home. it's not just a hazard, but could be contributing to our overall stress. I've started clearing a path, but we need a more sustainable solution. Yes. I've been worried about that for years. I'm going to look into a professional cleaning services and maybe some ongoing support. Can you coordinate that from your end? Absolutely. I can start researching and get things organized here. We might also need to consider some modifications to her home to make it safer for her. When she returns. Thank you DeeDee I can't tell you how much I appreciate this. The stay in touch. I'll book a flight and come out as soon as I can. Of course, Robert I'll keep you updated every step of the way your mom is in good hands. Talk soon. Talk soon, DeeDee and thanks again. To understand Robert Rutledge. We must journey back to his formative years in New Jersey. a state He would eventually leave behind for sunnier skies of California. Born, the only child of Helen and George Rutledge Robert's early life was marked by high expectations and a critical eye of his mother Helen. From a young age, Robert was acutely aware of his mother's expectations. Uh, hill and a woman of strong opinions and even stronger will often expressed her views on the right way to live. She envisioned a life. For Robert close to home, steeped in traditions and community of their New Jersey roots. However Robert's aspirations lay elsewhere. As a teenager, Robert displayed a keen interest in technology and innovation. Field's ever rapidly evolving. His curiosity. Was often met with skepticism by Helen. Who referred stability over what she considered risky ventures. Despite this Robert's passionate, only grew. Leading him pursue a scholarship at prominent university in California, much to Helen's dismay. College in California was more than an education for Robert. It was liberation. The vibrant tech scene and the progressive culture were in stark contrast to his conservative upbringing here, Robert thrived his ideas and ambitions nurtured by mentors and peers alike after graduation. The decision to stay in California and start his own tech company. Was met with cold silence from Helen. She viewed his decision as a personal affront. A rejection of a life. She had envisioned for him. Despite the physical and emotional distance. Robert made efforts to bridge the gap, calling Helen regularly, attempting to explain his work and his life. Yet these conversations often ended in disagreements and misunderstandings. With Helen critiquing his lifestyle choices. From his career days, delay and starting a family aspects of his life that didn't meet her traditional expectations. The years added layers of disconnect, especially when robert's father passed away. With each call less frequent than the last. Robert's visits home became. yearly the obligations rather than joyful reunions, often strained and uncomfortable the birth of his daughter. Bought a brief fall in relations as Helen adored her granddaughter. But the fundamental differences remained. Now as Helen faces challenges compounded with her hoarding. Robert finds himself. Once again, trying to bridge the miles and the differences to support his mother who never quite understood his choices. It's a journey fraught with old wounds and new responsibilities, a path that Robert navigates with a hope that perhaps. This time, things might be different. Join us next time on clutter. As we follow Helen's journey through recovery and renewal. We'll explore how community learns to address hoarding with compassion and how a caregiver's resilience can change a life. I'm Beverly Nance reminding you that behind every door. There's a story waiting to be understood. And every step forward is a step toward healing. As we unravel the compelling narratives on cluttered. We are reminded by the profound emotional demands placed on caregivers. It's essential to remember that taking care of yourself is just as important as taking care of others. That's why we have created. The take care time, respite box. delivered bi-monthly each take care Time respite box is filled with items to nourish your body and soul. Enjoy soothing teas that calm the mind aromatic candles that set a tranquil atmosphere, luxurious skincare products. To pamper yourself. And inspirational books that offer wisdom and comfort. Subscribe today and give yourself the gift of relaxation and rejuvenation, because when you're recharged, you're more effective, more present and more capable of handling the challenges of caregiving. The take Care Time respite box because you deserve. To take care too. Visit takecaretime.com to order yours today. Please note that this episode features reenactments and dramatize details. While the most cases, the exact verbatim dialogue may not be known. All dramatizations are grounded in research. Do you respect the privacy and confidentiality of individuals involved names and some identifying. Details have been changed till next week. Take care. It's the um, uh, Um, Uh, transcript.