Hoarding refers to the acquisition of items with an associated inability to discard things that appear to others to have little or no monetary value, to the point where it interferes with use of living space or activities of daily living.

Hoarding is considered a form of self-neglect due to its impact on the adult and others. Hoarding can be so excessive that it can affect the adult’s health and wellbeing, can cause their property to become inhabitable and potentially have a knock on effect on neighbouring properties increasing the heightened risk of fire and infestations.

Conditions that can indicate signs of self-neglect and hoarding can include but are not limited to:

• extreme clutter, empty food packaging, books or papers stacked up in living spaces (clutter image rating scale can be found here)
• facilities such as bathrooms, kitchens and bedroom that are no longer fit for purpose because they are being used as storage
• exits are blocked and it is extremely difficult to navigate around the property
• hoarding of animals and issue related to their excrement

There are various reasons and explanations as to why an adult may self-neglect by hoarding. Hoarding can be triggered not only by undiagnosed or diagnosed mental health issues but by a traumatic experience, physical and nutritional deterioration, diminishing social networks and or economic resources.

You can access the slides from the most recent Safeguarding Adults Partnership Board, Self Neglect and Hoarding presentation.  

Below is a list of extra learning materials on hoarding and self-neglect for practitioners and managers:

• New persepectives on hoarding behaviours from Pyschology, Law and Social Care (1st February 2024) 
• Self-neglect, hoarding, executive functioning and the law
• The Hoarding Research Group and UK Hoarding Partnership 
• Decluttering support for people with hoarding behaviour
• Collaboration, technology and support in hoarding