Older Adults with Hoarding Behaviour Aging in Place: Looking to a Collaborative Community-Based Planning Approach for Solutions

Abstract

This paper reports on and synthesizes new research that examines how a collaborative community response can promote successful aging in place for older adults with hoarding behaviour. Through interviews with older adults with hoarding behaviour, who used a particular community support and a focus group interview with members of the community collaborative that directed supports for this population, our findings suggest that there were valuable outcomes for both groups. These older adults with hoarding behaviour were able to remain in their own homes, their safety was enhanced, their sense of isolation was minimized, empowerment was fostered, and they gained valuable insight into their behaviour. The members of the community collaborative were able to access the expertise of other professionals, maximize their own expertise, and they generated an enhanced understanding of the experience of older adults living with hoarding behaviour in Edmonton. This study is a significant addition to the much too sparse literature about the community planning needs of older adults with hoarding behaviour. It offers knowledge that is integral to theories and principles of better aging in place but attempts to translate this into practice.

Hoarding among older people: an evaluative review

“…Cermele et al 2001) and seems to require the presence of a trusting relationship with a health professional (Koenig et al 2013). The prevailing view in the literature is that multi-agency and interdisciplinary working is recommended as the most effective method of intervention in these cases (Poythress et al 2007; Chapin et al 2010; Koenig et al 2010, 2013; Lee, 2010; Whitfield et al 2011), although there are as yet no studies comparing different models of intervention. Further enquiry into hoarding stigma, the impact of media programming on public perceptions and treatment expectations, and barriers to help-seeking is recommended given their potential impact on the gap between onset and treatment.…”

Can Occupational Therapy Address the Occupational Implications of Hoarding?

“…Recommendations from Ayers at al. [ 53 ] and Brown and Pain [ 30 ] suggest that the most effective approaches should be ones that incorporate relationships of trust and client centeredness between services and the person who hoards and that a multiagency/multidisciplinary approach to achieve a common collaborative goal is ideal [ 64 ].…”