Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) is urging the federal government to take action to address the problem of hoarding disorder , a growing concern for senior citizens .
"Hoarding disorder is a heartbreaking condition that is posing challenges to older adults, their families, and their communities across the country," said Casey, the chairman of the Senate Special Committee on Aging.
Approximately 14 million people in the United States have hoarding disorder. Although roughly 2% of all U.S. residents have the mental health condition, about 6% of adults over the age of 70 have hoarding disorder.
Hoarding disorder can contribute to social isolation due to stigma, partially propagated by reality television shows featuring extreme examples of the condition. For older adults, the stigma around hoarding disorder can exacerbate existing problems of elderly residents lacking social connection.
But the disorder can have more devastating effects for physical health.
Not only can extreme hoarding lead to unsanitary environments, but it can also hinder mobility within the home.
One study cited in the report found that 70% of those with hoarding disorder were unable to use their sofas and 45% could not use their refrigerators. About 42% could not use their bathtubs, and 10% could not use their toilets.
Hoarding disorder also increases the risk of falling for seniors. On average, injuries from falls cost Medicare approximately $31 billion annually.
The condition also dramatically risks the burden for community fire departments as cluttered environments often making rescuing people more hazardous and less likely.
The report outlines how excessively cluttered environments reach flashover (or the point at which all items in the home simultaneously catch fire) at about 1 minute and 40 seconds, compared to 6 minutes in an uncluttered home. After flashover, it is unlikely that anyone who is trapped inside a structure can be rescued.
Hoarding tendencies also contribute to housing insecurity, as landlords of those with hoarding disorder struggle to comply with local safety standards.
Although cognitive behavioral therapy and psychological treatments are available for those with hoarding disorder, social worker and community experts who testified before the committee for the report stressed the need for more research and better rehabilitation options.
Casey's majority committee report found that there are few resources for those with hoarding disorder from federal public health agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
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"The federal government has an obligation to ensure that Americans can age with dignity, and this report makes clear that obligation must include doing more to address hoarding disorder," Casey said.
Aiding seniors is a key portion of Casey's reelection campaign against Republican challenger Dave McCormick since approximately 20% of the Keystone State is over the age of 65. More than 22% of the state's population is enrolled in Medicare, compared to the national enrollment rate of 19%.
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