Hello, this is Deb Surriani and welcome to the age friendly Chelmsford show and uh I have some wonderful uh visitors today, guests and we are talking about um the hoarding disorder network. We're
talking about the buried in treasures workshops and we're talking about a very special event that's coming up May 2nd. Um and that is a well we'll let them share it a little bit with it. I won't I won't drop everything together, but an age friendly community. Um one of the
tenants of age friendly communities is community supports and services. And so we're highlighting some of those today. And my guests are April Hunt from the Chsford Senior Center. Thanks for coming, April. >> You're welcome. Good to be here.
>> And your title is >> officially >> elder support services coordinator. >> That really entails so much more than what that sounds like. Like there's so much more under under that. And and also Taran Angel from uh the board of health.
Yes. And your official title >> community health and inspectional specialist. great >> this year anyway. So, we've been working in in partnership with the board of health and the senior center for a long time, the age friendly community. Um, we have people from the
library, people from the center for the arts, the assessor's office, the police and fire, we have uh the town clerk. I mean, we just the veterans agent. We we partner with anybody who will have us. So um that's one of the wonderful parts
about it. So um tell me about this upcoming event. Uh this is the the textile recycling and paper shredding event. >> Okay. Yeah. It was started by the um what we started here in Chelmsford and now it encompasses about nine eight to
nine towns. It's the Middle Sex Hoarding Disorder Resource Network. Um, we just wanted something more that people who are um who have hoarding disorder or families of people who who know or friends or
family of people who have hoarding disorder. We wanted to give them a resource. Um, we're still buil building up our resources, but this is a way for us to introduce ourselves to the public. We So we've got a truck that will shred
um paper. You don't have to be a resident of Chelmsford. You just have to be a resident of Chelmsford or the towns that are in the hoarding disorder group. Do >> we have those on the flyer? The the towns. >> They're trying to remember them all. >> It's in our little logo, but it's um
>> Yeah, there's a lot. >> Yeah, there's a lot, you know. >> Yeah, we have I know it's Westford um Tingbrow. >> Yep. Uh, Drake. >> Yep. Tukberry. >> Tukberry. Bill Rick. >> Bedford. >> Bedford. Yeah. I mean, many towns in the area. All the
>> We're not going to ask for your Yeah. If you want to come to this, we're not going to ask. If you got stuff, bring it on. Bring it on. So, it's a um May 2nd, Saturday, 9 to 12. >> 9 to 12. >> Please don't line up too early. 40 is going to keep traffic going. Yeah. But
we're going to have a truck for shredding and um and all the textile another truck from Helpsy. Um another truck or trucks. They said they'll take as many textiles as you as we can get in
those three hours. Um this can be pillows, blankets, >> stuffed animals, which is huge because not a lot of places take those things. >> Exactly. Shoes, pocketbooks, backpacks, luggage. >> Um they'll take all of that. We have a list on our >> No mattresses. No mattress. >> No mattresses, please.
>> Nope. Um, we're gonna have a bunch of volunteers who can help take the stuff out of the cars. >> And that's at the Chumsford Senior Center parking lot. >> Yep. So, it's going to be drive-thru, so nobody has to get out of their car. Nobody has to do any heavy lifting. We have people to do it for them. We'll just be very specific about what we're taking out of the car to make sure we're
not accidentally grabbing something that >> If you have a cute puppy, we might, you know, we might take the puppy for ourselves. >> People might take it home. And the greatest thing about Helpsy is so they weigh the amount of textiles that they get from this event and then they give us some money back. So we're going to
put that directly into the Middle Sex Hoarding Disorder Resource Network. >> Excellent. >> For future events or >> Exactly. initiatives. >> Funding is our biggest obstacle right now. So we're looking for ways to raise money. >> Now, do you know what they do with those textiles? Do they donate some of them to
local things or do they like recycle them all or >> they go through like a list of um local charities and nonprofits and they see what they're looking for. So if they have those items, they'll donate them or they'll sell them for their own profit. >> Okay. >> Or recycle them. So you can donate even
things that are stained and have holes and >> Okay. >> They'll take it all. >> That's super That's super great. >> If if you can separate them saying this is probably not donatable. >> Yeah. you know, like if there are stained things or ripped, just say textiles for recycling, right?
>> They they would appreciate that. That would work out great for them. >> That's great because it's uh it's, you know, a great way to get rid of a lot of things that you you're not sure what to do with and you don't >> because you can't throw away textiles anymore in the trash. So, we're trying
to help and it's a way for the public to get to know us. We'll hand out brochures so people can just we just want people to be aware of that we are here for them. >> Right. Right. So part of the funding >> Yes. Spring cleaning. >> So yeah, >> we love the partnership with our the
board of health is doing a lot for it. Of course the senior center and and April's the head of the uh hoarding disorder network and um so another partner is Helpsy. Are they donating something for us? Are we paying them?
No. As >> it's totally It's completely free. So they That's free. >> Yeah. So they're picking up all the textiles. They give us >> They're giving us a little money back. >> 10 cents per pound. Super. And then So the more you bring, the better it is for us. >> The better it is for us. Excellent. Don't be scared. Bring it donation
because, you know, we can help people with that money, too. And then um the friends of the senior center are paying for >> the shredding truck. >> The shredding truck. So you can drop off, you know, boxes of of of paper and do is there like a
>> a security concern like it goes just shredded right? >> So you got stuff that you're worried about like uh security and everything. It goes right into the truck. Zoom shredder. >> Staples and paper clips are okay, but that's don't not the big clips or
anything. >> Yeah. So Okay. Super. >> And that is like once it's full though, that's that's it. So we only have that one truck, >> right? Okay. >> So the earlier the better for so that's limited >> data shred is the company that's >> Oh, I hope they got a good big truck.
>> Yeah, I know. Have you seen my office now? So, um, that is again May 2nd, uh, Saturday the 9 900 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Chsford Senior Center and it is free. >> And, um, so you don't have to be a
senior and you don't have to be from Chsford to to benefit from that. Um, and we have the other folks from the other towns, the board of health and the different people on the in the in our network that we've created um, helping with that. and such a regional uh just a
plus for sharing resources regionally. It's been wonderful because I know um you know it started at the senior center and the board of health um started the the groups as well in the decluttering classes and then when when we brought in
other towns they said wow that's a great success of a partnership and um so other towns are doing it. Tell me a little bit more about the hoarding disorder network and what you've been able to accomplish because we as a as a team and as a
region have really accomplished quite a lot through this. >> Yeah. >> Tell me a little bit more about that. >> April has done a fabulous job. She works extremely hard to bring us all together every month. She's very organized. I don't know how she does it, but we just all come together once a month and we
talk about different hoarding cases we might have in our town and how we can help each other out with addressing those. And we have this great resource brochure that we've put together. And >> it's just a great way for us to collaborate with other towns and learn from each other and support each other.
It's it's been beautiful and the hour goes by quick, I think. >> Yes. You're sharing successes, you're sharing support. >> Um supportive ideas about how to help people, right? >> Um, and >> we also we we train um we give trainings
to the first responders to let them know how when they enter a home, you know, um just to try not to react, you know, cuz if if they go in and you know, if they any negativity, they might not let those of us who have to follow to come and
help the person, right? >> You know, so we we train uh first responders on that. We've also the other towns now are doing their decluttering workshops. It's great. Um I heard just from Bel Rea 29 people signed up for
their class that's starting. >> I'm like 20, you know, there's a big need for it >> and um Methuan used to be in our network and now they're starting their own network up further north with Averil and Lawrence >> and Andover, North Andover in it. So it
is there is a big need for it and we just kind of got the ball rolling and with this event after we have it in Chelmsford another town we're kind of the guinea pig we'll see how it goes in one of the other towns in one of the you know in the network will have it at in their town next year
>> but all of the other you know anybody can go to it but it's just a way to >> like I said we're the guinea pigs >> and thank you for doing that Debbie because I know that opening up the senior center and having all the traffic and the parking lot. We're not letting all the >> Not the center, the parking lot. So,
thank you so much for allowing us to do it there. >> Well, it's a great location because it's right off the highway off of Route Three and it's pretty easy for a lot of the towns to get to. So, >> it's a goodiz parking lot. >> We're a lot luckier than, you know, we
have a large facility. We have a large park, although the parking lot's never big enough for us somehow. Anyways, um so I thank you for that because it's been an amazing catalyst for change and one of the biggest things I think that
that has has changed is the we're we're putting aside the stigma. >> Absolutely. Because we're saying this is sometimes based in some trauma response or some mental health issues or some you
know some family history or precipitating stressful event that people have um been involved in even just like a death of a of a loved one and all of their stuff comes. I I still have all of my mother-in-law's things in my basement from when she passed away.
And that's been like that's an emotional thing to to to face >> to figure out how to get rid of those things. And I think just helping people with that struggle instead of saying we're the border health, we step in and you know all that like it's changing the
idea that people know that the town is there to help them. Exactly. to to get services to change things for them for the better in their lives and to help support them. >> Yeah. >> Um and so I so appreciate what you've both done to make that happen and and
also the other folks. So you have um is Darcy running the the workshops with you? Who else is running the work? >> Yes. So it's Darcy and I. We do those together. >> You guys are like little team. Oh >> our team. Yes. And then um Deb Barry and
April started the >> started the >> the buried and treasure workshops. >> Yes. And now I have somebody who was in was in the workshop now co-f facilitates with me. Her name is Michelle. She's wonderful. She's amazing because you know and we also uh provide a support
group after when you go through the workshop for those who still need the support of the group. You know the encouragement of the group. They still have little projects they have to do. Um last week they all had to both groups had to do um a small junk drawer. So,
you know, everybody we give them little baby steps and then they kind of build up to a whole room. >> So, we um I'm going to ask you both separately because the board of health has morphed theirs into a little bit of a different thing too. So I wanted to
ask April 1 like what tell me a little bit more details what somebody's going to expect if they if they join one of these workshops. What type of person would generally benefit from the workshops that we're offering?
>> It's usually somebody who notices that the house is getting away from them a little bit. You know, it's maybe a lot of times we've get people it starts in their late 40s, 50s, 60s when either the children have left the home or, you know, they're downsizing and they notice
we have a lot more stuff than maybe our neighbors do and we've got to we need to address it. A lot of times the workshops benefit those who realize that there's a problem that it's getting away from them. So when they come to us, we teach
them skills on decision making um categoriz how to organize a little bit better and um the emotional attachment that they have with these items >> um and procrastination. We all of those
things we address in over 15 weeks. Each workshop for us, I'm not sure about joy of um of less is 15 weeks and we slowly, you know, this we're dealing with people who've been doing this for about 40 or 50 years.
>> They're not going to get right over it in 15 weeks, but we start the process. Yeah. >> In 15 weeks. >> And so, you don't have to have a diagnosed hoarding disorder to benefit from this workshop. It can be somebody who's had a precipitating stressful
factor in their life where maybe a loved one passed away or they're just trying to trying to downsize as they age and want a smaller place or you don't have to be a senior. You don't have to be from Chelmsford. All of these this
network you can mo I think all the other towns offer workshops too or mo a lot of >> most of them do. A lot of them, >> most of them do. >> And a lot of the other towns will allow other people from different towns. So, some of them are on Zoom,
>> some of them are in person, um, some of them are during the day, some of them are in the evening. So, we're really trying to meet the needs of all, you know, different ages and, um, and and demographics. >> And you don't even have to have hoarding
disorder or a very, you know, a heavy content house. Even if you just have a messy garage or something, the skills that and the techniques that they learn in both >> both, you know, any kind of decluttering class, you can put towards anything, you know, as you're going through.
>> So, it's not like a clinical therapy group. It's a workshop and you have homework. >> You will have >> every week. Yes. And she looks nice. April looks nice, but she she has a little she has a a ruler in the back.
No, >> no, but humor plays a huge part in it. Yes. You know, you have to have fun with the work. You know, you have to have fun with it, >> right? And and and also sensitivity because it's a very emotional issue too. So, so we wanted to do a little fun thing, right? So, I said, "Can you show
me a little?" She's like, "What? What? What? What? What did I say I'd do?" This is how work is usually with us. So, um, one of the examples of something that you do in the class involves dice. >> Yes. So, you brought the dice.
>> It's a pro it's a procrastination. Um, >> so help me through this. >> Both pe both um classes last night, they took more dice. It's something uh we came up with because a lot of people it's even making the decision of where to start. >> Yeah.
>> So, we said, "Okay, we got these at the Dollar Tree store. One dice you put on that you have six sides. Pick the six messiest places in your house. Living room, bathroom, whatever. This you can either put towards how many how much
time you want to spend on it or how many items you want to remove from that area. >> Okay. So, you could put a little tape on it or even a Sharpie if you want to write on it. >> Right. You don't have to go by the numbers here. But you could say 10 minutes, 20 minutes, or I want to
remove, you know, 10 items from the room. >> It just gets you started because procrastination is one of the biggest things that people have to deal with along with decision- making. This helps with the decision of where you're going to do, how long you're going to spend,
or how many items. >> And it it's one just one tool. We give you so many different options, but this one does help a lot of people. And I >> you don't know where to start. Sometimes it makes I mean >> this tells you where you can >> I have a lot of different projects in my
house and if I have some time to do it then I go ah I don't know where to start. Right. And this is one tool that you teach people. >> It's overwhelming of where to start. Yeah. It's fun. >> Yeah. >> And then we ask when they're totally done give the dice back. We don't want to add to their stuff in the house.
>> Good point. >> That's good. That's smart. That's smart. And um so Taran, you started some um something called Joy of Less. >> Yes. >> And so that's >> So I sat through April's one of April's
buried and treasures classes for the whole 15 weeks to get an idea of how she ran it, what to expect so that we could bring that back and we could do it through the health department. Y >> um so we did that for about three years. We did the buried and treasures workshops. We did support groups after
and we did one CBT class. Um, and then we kind of didn't want to have such a similar program as the senior center because she does such like April does such a good job with that. So, we want to do something a little different. So, we started the joy of less which is on the second and fourth Tuesday of every
month. It's open to anybody even if you just want to learn how to organize a closet. So, we have different topics each class. Our last class we talked about like the importance because we're you know we're the health department so we talk about like the importance of dusting and how to take care of rodent
droppings properly safely and like what's in your dust and why it's important that we not only organize but we're we're staying clean too in our spaces. So it's been great. We've had we have about 10 participants. They are required to bring in donations which we
give to the wish project a lot of the time or the senior c center's um treasure shop and then the rest will go to either savers or if we have somebody that we know could use the item so we'll do that too. >> Yeah, that's super fun. >> Yeah, a lot of people sometimes are not
trained by either their parents or anyone of how to clean. >> We've encountered that people they're like and we say well you know try to clean your bathroom what do I use? How do I clean my bathroom? So that's super important to teach people >> how to clean, what to use when
>> safely, you know, the mouse droppings. It kind of destigmatizes like, you know what, sometimes they get in. Yep. >> And we all have an issue trying to manage some kind of pest in our lives. So we just help them figure out how to manage it properly. >> Animal, right? >> Yeah. Exactly.
>> I was just going to say, stop talking about me. I'm right here. So the other things that you've done are with partnerships with our library. You've had some workshops over at the library to help I think both of you maybe have to help um family members or
friends like what are some of the things that we can do to help somebody if you notice that there's somebody in your life who's struggling with this >> other than pointing them at this work these workshops that are by the way are they free? Yes,
>> they're free or it's a minimal $10. We want a little skin in the game, >> you know, but that covers the 15 weeks, the workbook, the handouts, anything that we give them. But yes, >> yep. The friends of the senior center pay for the book, which is called Buried and Treasures. You can get it on Amazon
or whatever. But we buy them and they're like $20. We'll pay for half of it, you pay for the other half. Everything else is free. >> Yep. >> And um >> great resources to have, too. >> Yeah. Yeah. And uh and and it's a book you can just get and look through if you
want to see before you, >> you know, um we don't get any commission for that, but but it's it's kind of I have the book. I got to um >> I got to I think >> chapter eight. >> Chapter Yeah, I know. Chapter eight. She
knows client and um chapter eight and I got a dumpster full of stuff out of my house. It was great. >> Great. Um, so it helps you understand a little bit more about like what is keeping you, what's getting you attached
to things, what is um what are your some of your habits, what what are the emotions behind them or maybe some of the background of any trauma responses or any kind of like what you've been learn taught in your life about things,
you know, like some people their family members lived through the depression and they They keep things, you know, just there were all kinds of things going on or like your family members things that just mean so much to you like can or
your children's things from when they're kids. >> All kinds of you know how do you >> Yep. Guilt comes in. How do you or creative people? >> Oh yes. >> Tell me about creatives. >> They'll find they'll find a reason for everything. A
lot of studies have shown a lot of people who do have a lot of stuff are very creative. There's a part of the brain a different yes high IQs, you know. So, not it's it's not always all bad, you know. >> Um but there are parts of the brain that are different with people who do have a
lot who do clutter. >> There is something there is an higher emotional emotional significance to items that other people don't have. and to let go of those items cause them very discomfort and even pain. It's like letting a go letting go a part of
themselves or a close friend. So when family members come to us, we have to let kind of let them know that they're not doing it to be difficult or and they can't understand why their family can't just throw things away. We try to
explain to them what's kind of going on in their brain and how they see items. >> Yeah. And we give them tips um of how to work with their family member, you know, and support them. >> Yeah. >> Let them make >> and in a fun and supportive environment.
>> Exactly. Yes. Yeah. You yelling at them or, you know, demeaning them >> or getting rid of all the stuff is very damaging. >> They will fill it up within a year. They will fill it up >> again. April hates the order class. I mean,
we both Yeah. That is not the answer. Just getting rid of people's stuff and people underlying issue profit. Yeah. >> So, um Oh, there I want so much more time to talk to you about this. Um so, tell me also about the CBT class then.
>> The CBT follows buried in treasures. It's cognitive behavior behavioral therapy um >> for hoarding disorder. And we go deeper into why you may have started this. >> Um what triggered it? A lot of times it
can take start in your teenage years. >> Um was it learned habits from your parents? Did something happen in your life where you you didn't have control? This is one way to control. It's everybody has their own bugaboos, but this is something how peop this is a
behavior that comes out for people who have a predisposition towards cluttering or keeping things >> and it's a way for um it provides them comfort. It provides them safety sometimes. So, we kind of try to dig
further what may have started it. Um, and the people in the group right now, I'm doing the CBT, and each week we go through a different topic of what might have started it, and they're writing it down. Um, I won't go into what we're going to do with that piece of paper
next, but we're going, you know, >> shredder. No, >> it's Yeah, it's it's just delving deeper. They still do all the things that you guys do. They still have to bring three items to class each week and talk about them. And a lot of people have said they've able to let things go
in class because almost they've be been given permission >> to let things go. >> Plus, when they see other people letting things go, it encourages them like, well, I can't be the only one who doesn't items. I want to talk about my items, too. So, they get to talk about it and it's so much fun and it's such a
supportive environment, too. They have best friends by the time they leave. >> Yeah. They have somebody they can talk about. I have people now instead of going out buying, they go to they go and see a show or something. They're getting away from acquiring and that's usually the first thing that goes.
>> Speaking of delving deeper, I wish we could. This is the end of our show. I wish we had more time, but you guys are wonderful. Thank you for everything you're doing for folks. Thanks everybody. See you next month. Hey, hey, hey.