Healthy Homes: Hoarding

Hoarding is where someone acquires a large number of items and stores them in an unorganised way. This is different to collecting where items might be filed or categorised.  Things may mean a lot to someone that hoards but have little or no value, such as junk mail, carrier bags, receipts, old medication, and even things like hair, or rotten food.  Anybody can be affected by hoarding, and it is thought to start in teenage years and become more noticeable with age. It is estimated that 2-5% of the population are affected by hoarding.  

How can this impact health?

Hoarding can affect health in many ways: 

  • It can impact mental health by affecting relationships with family and friends. This can increase social isolation and loneliness. 
  • It can increase the risk of trips and falls in the home, or the likelihood of a fire particularly if routes to doors are blocked. 
  • It can encourage rodents or insects which may increase likelihood of bacteria or diseases. 
  • It can also affect existing health conditions particularly breathing problems, such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).  

What steps can be taken?

Using a Clutter Image Rating is a good way to measure how a home looks, and whether to think about taking steps to manage hoarding. Visiting the Hoarding Center to view a clutter image rating. Here are some practical steps to reduce the risk of harm:  

  • Maintain a clear path to doors and a clear exit, so doors can open completely. This will ensure people can enter and leave in an emergency.  
  • Keep 24 inch clear around oven top, with no items, to reduce the risk of fire.  
  • Keep space clear to safely eat at home, away from items that may be unhygienic.  
  • Set up a filing system for important documents. Or use boxes for things like bills, stamps, or stationary, to protect important documents and avoid late payments and charges.  
  • Limit incoming papers such as newspaper or magazine subscriptions, and junk mail.  

What support is available?