Hoarders!  We've all seen the shows, or least their commercials, of people who compulsively hoard an astonishing amount of items.  There are a variety of factors than can lead to this disorder.  Though it is believed to develop during adolescence, most of the serious symptoms emerge during middle age and then worsen. It has long been an easy assumption that older people develop this behavior due to past hardships, such as living through the Great Depression or the Holocaust. However, the general nature of aging can trigger these anxieties and traits, magnifying them even more.  Depression, loneliness, low-self esteem, financial hardships, mourning...are just some of the common causes that a senior might begin hoarding. For example, if they have lost several loved ones, they may hold onto possessions that remind them of those people.  They may  even acquire new things that the person "would have liked".  The fear or anxiety of losing anything more, can become overwhelming. The mere act of acquiring and keeping provides a sense of control, a sense they don't feel on a regular basis.  The symptoms may appear gradually.  It is best to address any possible issues early, before the situation becomes unmanageable or even dangerous. Caregiverstress.com provides signs to look for:

•Piles of mail and unpaid bills
•Difficulty walking safely through a home
•Frustration trying to organize
•Difficulty managing activities of daily living
•Expired food in the refrigerator
•Jammed closets and drawers
•Compulsive shopping
•Difficulty deciding whether to discard items
•A health episode such as a stroke or dementia
•Loneliness

If you find yourself in this situation, there are several websites that can provide information and assistance:

*National Association of Professional Organizers.  Find a professional organizer near you at http://www.napo.net

*National Association of Senior Move Managers.  For assistance helping older adults and their families downsize, relocate or modify their homes, contact http://www.nasmm.org.

*National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization.  For various resources on combating clutter.  This non-profit organization features fact sheets, a clutter-hoarding scale for professional organizers to help assess their clients, and a questionnaire to determine if someone is a chronic disorganize.  Chronic disorganization is defined by the group as ongoing (chronic), interfering with the ability to get things done or with relationships, and a history of failed self help.

*Vickie Dellaquila.  Certified professional organizer and author of Don’t Toss My Memories in the Trash.  Email Vickie at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

*University of New Mexico Researcher Dr. Catherine Roster.  Dr. Roster is a clutter researcher who serves as research director for The National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization.  She is currently working on a clutter self-assessment tool that will help clutter collectors get to the root of their issues.

*University of Kansas Professor Dr. David Ekerdt.  Dr. Ekerdt is coordinating a “household moves” project to determine the role that possessions play in older people’s housing decisions.

*Katherine “Kit” Anderson, CPO-CD.  President of the National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization.  You can email her at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

*Remove from Junk Mail Lists.  To get Seniors off of junk mail lists, you can remove them by going to online resources such as http://dmachoice.org, http://www.catalogchoice.org and http://www.optoutprescreen.com

Do you know a hoarder?  Do you think you might be a harder yourself? Share your story with us and leave comments. By sharing experiences, others may find solutions to similar problems.