I sense that unloading these items on us gives (her) a feeling of comfort and keeps her from making difficult decisions

My sister “Mary Ann” is a hoarder. She refuses all offers of assistance (physically and emotionally) to clear her home of the overwhelming amount of stuff that negatively impacts her life. Our extended family is thrilled that she has finally started to make an effort to sort through some of her “treasures.

Dear Abby, our relative is a hoarder who is slowly trying to get rid of junk, but rather than make decisions about her things, she just gives them to us as "gifts"

We have now become recipients of birthday and Christmas gifts, some of which are opened, used, dusty and have animal fur on them. We do not want or need these “gifts.”

How do we politely (and firmly) express to Mary Ann that we have no desire to receive her hoard, bit by bit, without reversing the progress she has made in attempting to address her disorder? -- UNHAPPY RECIPIENT IN MISSOURI DEAR RECIPIENT: You are not going to “fix” Mary Ann.