Hoarding and How You Can Help

We are going to be talking about a tough but important topic – hoarding.  You’ve seen those shows.  Maybe you can’t bear to watch them – it’s really difficult and people can get themselves in very complicated and dangerous situations.  But it’s more common that you might think.

Hoarding – the word is even tough and it's more of an issue that you might think.  Lots of us can simply accumulate too many things and when you’re older than can create some special problems:  

• 80 percent of older adults experiencing hoarding struggled to move about their homes

• 70 percent could not sit on their sofa

• More than half could not access the kitchen to make food

  
  

Hoarding disorder can cause a variety of complications, including:

• Increased risk of falls.

• Injury or being trapped by shifting or falling items.

• Family conflicts.

• Loneliness and social isolation.

• Conditions that aren't clean and can be a health risk.

• A fire hazard.

• Poor work performance.

• Legal issues, such as eviction.

Aging exacerbates the dangers of hoarding. Changes with vision, cognitive abilities, and energy levels, as well as chronic health problems, can make hoarding more hazardous. Cluttered homes also put seniors at an increased risk for falls. They may be unable to use a walker or wheelchair inside their residences.

While about 2 percent of the general population struggles with accumulating too many objects, hoarding impacts over 6 percent of people aged 65 and older.

The proportion of older Americans is expected to increase from 16 percent in 2019 to 25 percent in 2060. With an aging population, hoarding behavior may become more prevalent.

Listen along to this episode as I unravel some considerations related to hoarding, hoarding disorder and how you can be of help.

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Disclaimer: The information provided on this website and on the podcast is not intended to be considered as legal advice or constitute an attorney/client relationship as provided under the Tennessee Rules of Professional Conduct.