Woman's Body Found Inside Newton Home

NEWTON, MA — The body of a woman was found in a Newton home last month. The District Attorney's office is handling the case and said they do not suspect foul play.

It's not yet clear when the woman died or how she died, but the state of her home, so cluttered with items she had collected the front door wouldn't open, highlights an unseen issue that can impact anyone in any neighborhood of town, as a similar case in a well-to-do Brookline neighborhood showed in 2017.

The term "hoarding" may have been popularized by reality TV shows showing interventions in cases where individuals have collected so many items, hoping to reuse them later or attaching sentimental value to them, but it is a serious disorder that affects an estimated 2 to 6 percent people across the country, according to various studies.

"We get calls like this all the time," said Deputy Fire Chief Israel Jimenez. "It is a problem for us, in terms of, if we have a fire, it makes it very difficult to get into these properties and bring a hose line in, or make entry," he said.

And that means delay in a situation where seconds matter and where a home filled with clutter is primed to feed that fire, making it a more dangerous for firefighters there to put it out.

"That's why the law chapter 148, allows us to take action when we see [signs of hoarding disorder in a home,] we refer it to the inspectional services or task force" he said. "We like to know so we can help out before it gets too serious. We have to get it cleaned up because of that. It's for their safety and our safety."

Social workers say it's difficult to know just how widespread is in Newton, because it relates to mental health and can come with feelings of embarrassment, or denial.

"It exists a lot more than we're aware of because it's such a private hidden issue," Pam Weissman of Newton Health and Human Services told Patch. She estimated her department and the Newton Hoarding Task Force, of which she is the chair, work on about four to six a month. "And there are many that never cross my path, and we hear about others that we haven't been involved in. "

Enter the Task Force

Until about a decade ago when fire and police happened upon homes so filled with items it made it difficult to get around, or unsafe they'd informally reach out to social services. A former social worker saw so many homes in Newton with the problem she decided to put together a task force to help the people who lived in those homes.

Now, if a first responder, say a police officer during a wellness call, identifies a potential hoarding case, they can contact a community social worker or public health nurse, and if it's an emergency the housing inspector. The social worker then contacts Newton's Hoarding Task Force, which initiates community support services and protective services where there may be a mental health intervention and help through local cleaning companies. The task force then helps keep in touch with the person or persons.

No one can just show up unannounced and enter your home, and social workers won't do that, either said Weissman.

"Where you live is your home, and we can't really enter it unless it's an emergency, or a safety or well-being issue," she said.

Her job, as a social worker and member of the task force, might go with firefighter to offer support, offer resources for a homeowner.

"I try to be supportive and see what you're looking to help de-clutter, and help give ideas about how to do that, but it really has to be your decision. My job as a social worker is to help you find those resources," she said.

Responses to that offering of support vary widely, she said.

Every month members of the task force, representatives from the housing authority, senior services, protective services, planning, environmental health, fire police, Riverside community care, and social services gather to check in with each other about progress made or next steps to help take with various residents.

Educate and provide resources

For the third year the task force has also received a $4,300 Mass Housing grant to support educating and helping connect residents with resources - like a program in the works that has Wellesley College Students going into the homes with social workers and helping residents de-clutter. In collaboration with Riverside, the students help residents decide what to keep, discard, and what to donate.

"That's the most effective way to de-clutter, and possibly the healthiest way," said Weissman.

The task force is sponsoring two programs coming up this year in an effort to help educate people. In May, they will be hosting a panel presentation at the senior center with a focus on how to be safe in your home.

"It can become overwhelming for people who have a lot of stuff in their home - they don't know how to make small changes, and small changes are a good place to start," Weissman said.

If someone you are concerned about a family member or friend and are looking for options, Weissman recommends giving her a call and she'd walk you through resources. If your family member or friend is open and for treatment they can call Riverside.

"Be aware when visiting family or if you're home for the holidays just keep your eyes open and pay attention and make sure everyone is ok," said Weissman.

This story was first broken by Julie Cohen of the Brookline TAB.

DEFINITION OF HOARDING, according to the Newton Task Force:

• The acquisition of, and failure to discard, a large number of possessions;

• Living spaces that are overly cluttered as to preclude their intended use;
• Significant distress or impairment caused by the clutter.

Resources:

There's a clutter treatment group that meets Monday mornings at the Riverside Community Care facility. It's a weekly cognitive behavior therapy treatment group to help those who struggle with a clutter problem learn skills that will empower them to minimize acquisition and begin to de-clutter their homes. A multiple week. And there's a drop in group each month. too

More resources.

Pam Weissman of Newton Health and Human Services 617-796-1420

Related:

Decomposing Body Found In Brookline Home: DA

Patch reporter Jenna Fisher can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna).