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Hello to all, this is my first time here, and desperate for any help in how my sisters and I can approach a close family member. This family member has in the past had our help in cleaning up their home, not once but twice. We recently found out that friends of hers also helped clean her home out as well. She has repeated the cycle of not taking care of her home or herself, and just shutting everyone out until it becomes too late. She has a history of depression and has episodes where she just shuts down and shuts everyone out when there is a major event in her life, like a death. Her hoarding isn't so much "material things", it's more on not throwing out trash, cleaning or caring for her home. She has pets which make the matter much worse because she is very attached them. (Dog, 2 cats and 4 birds from what we are told). The situation has become desperate, as she recently lost her job during the Covid, and had her car repossessed, leaving her to rely on family and friends to take her places. She lives in a remote area, so walking to any store is not an option. Recently one of us had to step in and pay over $2000 in back Electric bills so her power wouldn't get shut off. She needs major professional therapy help, but are not sure how to approach her to address the situation without it sending her into a more downward spiral and doing something drastic as she has mentioned suicide before. If anyone has advice how we should approach the subject with this family member, and how to draw the lines of enabling, it would be GREATLY appreciated. She needs to not just clean up her home so it's not condemned, or her beloved animals removed, but she also needs to take steps herself to gain employment or assistance. Right now we all seem to be doing the steps for her because if we don't she will be homeless or we will need to step in to cover bills yet again so she has food, electricity, water and a roof over her head.
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