Understanding Hoarding Behavior Among Older Adults: A Case Study Approach

Hoarding behavior is an increasing problem among older adults. It creates problems related to personal and public safety, physical health risks and psychological well-being. This exploratory study describes 4 separate hoarding cases in terms of how each case was identified, processed and resolved. Records were obtained from written reports and interviews with representatives of Adult Protective Services, Office of the Public Guardian, and the Salt Lake City Police Department. Two of the cases were single females, one case was a single male and the other case a married couple. All subjects were Caucasian and 61 years old or older. The findings suggest that hoarding behavior greatly impacts the quality of life for the hoarders. It also costs the community precious resources in terms of time and money spent by agencies and others involved in resolving these cases. It is obvious that more research needs to be done to provide a better understanding of this devastating problem. Methods for earlier identification, intervention and treatment need to be developed in order to deal more effectively with hoarding behavior.