Hoarding Disorders - more than just clutter

A Hoarding Disorder is characterized by persistent difficulty in discarding or parting with possessions that appear to be useless or of limited value to others. This difficulty results in the accumulation of possessions congest and clutter living areas that they cannot be used for their intended purpose. This causes significant distress or impairment in functioning to the individual with hoarding behaviours.

Hoarding is a serious concern:

1 in 20 people (4-5 % of the population) have significant hoarding behaviours
Approx. 1.5 % among adult males and females
Average age in treatment is 50
Family history is common; behaviours can manifest as early as age 13
People with a hoarding disorder tend to live alone, with low marriage/high divorce rates

If you or someone you know is:

Having difficulty with clutter?
Collecting items and not using them?
Having challenges of letting go of items?

Then the difficulty may have moved beyond clutter into a hoarding issue. Click here to find how to deal with a hoarding issue or disorder in Windsor and Essex County.

Did You Know?

People cannot always recognize when their personal clutter has become a hoarding issue. If you suspect that you or someone you know may have a hoarding issue, please contact Family Services Windsor-Essex at 1-888-933-1831. We can work with people to organize and manage their home and possessions, while dealing with underlying issues of hoarding.

Attached are some *Hoarding Information Documents that may be helpful:

*Materials developed through funding from a Government of Canada New Horizon's Grant.