This Insidious Dementia
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If you’re caring for someone with dementia, you might have wondered why people with dementia hoard and/or destroy paper. Receipts, newspapers, junk mail, copy paper, tissues and napkins might be stacked into piles on tables, shredded into tiny pieces or crammed into the toilet, leaving you frustrated and bewildered.
After my mom (more about her here) passed, I cleaned out the house in order to get it ready to put on the market. In cleaning, I found piles and piles of paper. All odds and ends of paper.
Some were big pieces of paper. Some were piles of little bits of paper. Some were little bits of paper with designs on them. There were also little bits of napkins in them as well.
More about Mom
My mom was a creative person. As I was growing up, she was always working with some form of art medium. Case in point, I had quite the collection of her art work to see if anyone in the family wanted any of it. She sketched, drew, painted, did macrame, sewed, did embroidery, crocheted, cross-stitched to name a few.
In amongst the piles were little pieces of paper with designs. She had previously, before starting to forget things, used designs on paper to create borders around paper.
Was she collecting these to use on a future project? Was some inner force telling her to tear up paper? I wish I had been inside her brain to know what her thoughts were as she tore up the pieces. I’ll never know her exact reasons but here are some thoughts on why.
Why People with Dementia Hoard Paper
So it seems that hoarding paper is not that unusual. I had read countless times in various dementia Facebook pages about people collecting paper. Many of the comments were about loved ones putting large amounts of toilet paper in the toilets.
Here are some reasons for paper shredding in dementia patients:
Restlessness and Fidgeting
Dementia often causes restlessness, leading to repetitive actions like tearing paper to self-soothe.
Compulsion to Organize
Piling papers may be an attempt to “organize” a chaotic environment, giving the person whith dementia a sense of purpose.
Loss of Judgement
The ability to distinguish between important papers and trash deteriorates, leading to indiscriminate handling and discarding.
Toilet Paper Confusion
Cramming paper into the toilet could stem from confusing other papers with toilet paper or a general fascination with water. (Hmmm – I find this hard to believe because getting people to bathe is such a challenge)
Sensory Stimulation
The act of tearing, crumpling, or handling paper offers tactile feedback that may be comforting or satisfying (Don’t we all know how good it feels to tear something up!!!) Tactile stimulation is a good cognitive activity as well.
Anxiety or Boredom
Idle hands may gravitate toward nearby objects, and paper is often accessible. Destruction can become a coping mechanism. (Lesson here – don’t put any important documents near your loved one!)
Challenges for Caregivers
Challenges for Caregivers
Increased chance of plumbing issues
More clutter
Possible safety hazards
Emotional distress over the destruction of personal things or important papers
I know it’s hard but try to look on the positive side and see the humor in cleaning up a bunch of stuff and finding curious little piles of paper. Or finding them stuffed in the middle of books. Or under a pile of magazines! Or cleaning out pant pockets full of (clean) kleenex!
Practical Strategies to Manage Paper Hoarding
Here are some suggestions to try to manage paper hoarding.
Provide safe (not important) alternatives – Offer newspapers, magazines, or tissue paper for safe tearing and fidgeting
Create a “Paper Zone” – Designate a safe area for paper handling to contain the behavior
Supervise Bathroom Access – Install toilet locks* or monitor bathroom visits to prevent flushing incidents.
Engage in Alternative Activities – Redirect their attention with simple, repetitive tasks like folding towels or sorting objects.
Gradual Decluttering – Remove excess paper when they aren’t looking to prevent overwhelming piles from forming.
*Consider carefully whether or not toilet locks are a viable option- this may not be a good idea if your loved one needs to get up at night to quickly use the bathroom.
If you are interested in toilet locks here are a couple –
Toilet Locks Baby Proof (2-Pack) Ideal Baby Proof Toilet Lid Lock with Arm
Closing Thoughts
Remember caregivers, this behavior isn’t deliberate but just another crazy reaction to the dementia devil!
Have patience and try to laugh about it. But I know you’re not going to laugh about the toilet clogs.
Look for creative alternatives.
You may need to adapt their (your) environment. They have a hard time living in our world now, so we have to adapt to live in their world.
If you have had this situation with your loved one and have created ways to adapt, respond and let other readers know.
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