Compulsive hoarding is a state in which there is an overwhelming desire to collect things. A person showing signs of the condition is unable to discard items that other people believe are useless. Attempts to correct this situation may cause the hoarder great distress. Those concerned may give up hope, despite the dangers of allowing hoarding to continue.
Why We Can’t Ignore the Dangers of Hoarding
Doing nothing, and walking away is an option in every situation. However, compulsive hoarding is one of those conditions where we might have to do something to ensure the hoarder’s very survival. The Executive Office of Health and Human Services lists the dangers of allowing hoarding to continue as follows:
- Clutter, garbage, animal droppings, lack of sanitation, mould, and infestation can cause respiratory and other health problems. Trips and falls and other accidents become more likely too.
- Entrances, exits, windows, and inter leading doors may fill with clutter, and become inaccessible. Ambulance and fire officials may have difficulty gaining safe access during rescues.
- Curious children obtaining entry to the property may encounter unsafe conditions, and harm themselves on sharp objects. Neighbours may complain to authorities and demand action.
- A compulsive hoarder’s home may deteriorate to the point that it becomes impossible to live in. Their landlord may evict them, and they may drift away into homelessness. Who will care for them now?
When Intervention Is No Longer An Option ©Avery Associates
When Intervention Is No Longer An Option
Visible dangers of allowing hoarding may overcome our uncertainty to do anything about it. Complaints may arise among nearby residents, landlords may threaten eviction, or the local council may issue a notice.
The debate will heat up, and centre on whether the hoarding has reached the point where it has crossed a critical line. Many of these opinions will be selective. Some local councils may still not have clearly defined policies for measuring health and safety risks objectively.
So how then do we reach consensus between ourselves, the hoarder, and whoever is the complainant that the situation requires action, or does not for that matter? Many social workers, and more than a few families use the nine stages of hoarding as an objective measure.
Assessing the Level of Unnecessary Clutter
There are several models available to objectively assess the stage hoarding has reached. The image above clearly shows how the situation becomes more cluttered over time. But we may find it more helpful to fall back on the traditional five-phase model instead.
These five phases describe the progression from minimal to extreme, via mild, moderate and severe hoarding. Each phase adds new levels of risk, although many hoarders conceal the earlier stages. Each of them represents an increasing level of clutter on a measurable scale.
Dangers of Allowing Hoarding to Add Ongoing Clutter
- Minimal Clutter at Phase 1:We can easily access all the living spaces when we visit, and freely use all the exits. The home appears well-kept, with no evidence of mould. Plumbing and electrical services are in good order.
- Mild Clutter Appears at Phase 2: Stages 2 and 3 in our image show how the living areas are generally safe. But there are a few heaps of clutter, and we might have to step over a few things. Other than that, nothing much has changed.
- Moderate Clutter at Phase 3: Safety and hygiene concerns surface during levels 4 and 5. Access to some living spaces is difficult, and the home is becoming unsanitary. One entrance may be inaccessible. The kitchen and bathroom are becoming difficult to use.
Areas in the Home are Becoming Inaccessible ©Avery Associates
- Severe Clutter Present at Phase 4: Phase 4 corresponds to levels 6 and 7 in the diagram we showed earlier. Common areas in the home are unsafe and unsanitary, although bedrooms are still usable. Stairways and passages are blocked, and we battle to find our way through.
- Extreme Clutter at Phase 5: When a hoarder’s home enters levels 8 and 9, the situation is out of control. The dangers of allowing hoarding to continue without managing it are evident everywhere. The hoarder is trapped in a prison of their own making!
When Dangers of Allowing Hoarding Catch Up
The ‘chickens can come home to roost’ when we ignore a deteriorating situation for too long. Many new clients come to Avery Associates for advice, when someone they know is in Phase 4 or Phase 5 of hoarding.
We explain that we have a team on standby to assist. Although the client or someone else should be present to confirm what happens with the clutter. We can’t promise that everything will go smoothly, but the home should be tidier after Avery Associates have removed the unnecessary clutter.
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