What is Hoarding
Hoarding Task Force > What is Hoarding
Are you concerned that you or someone you know is suffering from hoarding disorder?
Hoarding Disorder includes all of the following:
- Person collects a large number of items that appear useless
- These items clutter one’s living space and make it hard to use rooms as intended
- Items cause distress in daily activities
- 3-5% of population likely to have hoarding disorder
- Likely underreported
- If 4% of the 215,888 year round population is affected by hoarding disorder, then 8,635 Cape residents are living with hoarding disorder
- Threat of falls, not being able to escape in an emergency, and house fires
- Threats to housing stability, and evictions
- Conflict with family, friends, and neighbors
- Loneliness and social isolation
- Men and women are affected at similar rates
- Much more common in older adults (ages 55-94)
- Symptoms first emerge at younger ages, get more severe as the person ages
- More likely to hoard if a family member has a history of hoarding disorder
- Individuals hoard paper items including mail and newspapers, as well as clothing, containers, garbage, furniture, and food
- Can hoard animals as well, but this is less common
- Difficulty getting rid of items and trouble with organization
- Strong feeling that these items will be needed at one point
- Sentimental attachment to items
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: Information processing, core values, beliefs about possessions, and role of emotions
- Medication: Can be used in addition to other treatments
- Skills training: Learn about organization, problem solving, and decision making
- Support groups, work with professional organizers, and behavioral health resources are also options
