Compulsive Hoarding: Overview and Implications for Community Health Nurses

Abstract

Hoarding is a serious public health hazard that poses significant health and safety risks for individuals, families, and communities. Research indicates that compulsive hoarding is a growing social and environmental problem across the United States, affecting as many as 2-5% of the population. Hoarders often live chaotically in their own private clutter until it spreads so far that it evolves into medical emergencies or can only be contained by the law. Visiting clients in their homes provides community health nurses with the unique opportunity to identify cases of hoarding and connect individuals and their families with appropriate resources, potentially preventing catastrophic outcomes. Interventions such as case-finding, outreach, case management, community education, and advocacy may be implemented by the community health nurse to improve the health of this very vulnerable population. The aim of this article is to inform community health nurses of the complexity of this emerging phenomenon, its symptoms, treatments, and impacts on individuals, their families, and their communities.

Supporting recovery from hoarding and squalor: insights from a community case study

“…In line with wider literature on the topic of hoarding and squalor (Snowdon et al 2007, Fleury et al 2012, Bratiotis 2013, the case study presented in this paper suggests the importance of mental health nurses viewing such behaviours as an opportunity to engage with broader mental health challenges. It is also important that mental health nurses focus on the following aspects of care: 1.…”

“…, Fleury et al . , Bratiotis ), the case study presented in this paper suggests the importance of mental health nurses viewing such behaviours as an opportunity to engage with broader mental health challenges. It is also important that mental health nurses focus on the following aspects of care: When receiving referrals of people with hoarding and or squalor behaviours, keep in mind that over 50% of people exhibiting such behaviours live with co‐morbid mental health conditions such as developmental disorder, alcohol dependence, schizophrenia and obsessive–compulsive disorders (Samuels et al .…”

“…Advocate strongly with the person as required and remember that recovery approaches do not preclude utilizing legislative support in times of crisis to avoid eviction from public housing (e.g. legal aid, tenancies tribunal) (Fleury et al 2012). These general principles, developed through experience and discussion with other clinicians and consumer representatives, provide an excellent first step towards building more rigorous evidence-based practices for supporting people with hoarding behaviours.…”

Frequency and spatial distribution of animal and object hoarder behavior in Curitiba, Paraná State, Brazil

“…When associated with frustrations expressed by family members, hoarding behavior and its consequences may cause a strain on relationships 6 . Conditions of hoarding behavior may worsen when animal accumulation is involved 3 , singly or in association with object hoarding, exacerbating complaints by neighbors of animal noise and the smell of feces 3,4,8,9 .…”

“…Hoarding behavior and its negative consequences have been considered a growing environmental concern for public health, related also to poor physical health, increased risk of injury, exacerbation of chronic diseases, occupational impairment, social concerns including risk of homelessness and social isolation, and economic burdens 6,7 . When associated with frustrations expressed by family members, hoarding behavior and its consequences may cause a strain on relationships 6 .…”