The Hazard of Hoarding

If we don’t have a collection ourselves, we all certainly know collectors. People who never seem to have enough of some random objects or items that tickle their fancy, be they stamps, saltshakers, coffee mugs, or seashells. Collectors start their collections for a variety of reasons, such as simply loving the objects they collect, or perhaps they see it as an investment, hoping that their collection will increase in value over time. While collections can be varied and sometimes eccentric, it is an innocent enough pursuit much of the time.

But sometimes collecting makes the jump from a hobby to something excessive and ceases to be collecting and becomes hoarding. And even then, when exactly does hoarding become a real health hazard?

Only recently have researchers examined the hoarding condition, and in 2013 it was designated as a distinct form of mental illness. Hoarding is described as a pattern of behavior characterized by excessive acquisition, and an inability or unwillingness to discard any object due to thinking they may need it at some point in the future.

Between 2 and 6 percent of adults suffer from hoarding, and it’s more common among older adults. Adults between the ages of 55 and 94 are three times more likely to be affected compared to adults 44 or younger.

As a hoarding disorder progresses, it can strain family relationships and friendships, as well as cause individuals to isolate themselves. Hoarders can become unwilling to let others into their home, even when they need help with daily activities like bathing and eating. In severe cases, hoarding can cause unsafe living conditions leading to fires, rodent infestation, and clutter that limits mobility.