Contributing Author: Cassandra Long

The Risks of a Hoarding Habit

Home, Health, and Your Kids: The Risks of a Hoarding Habit

It is believed that one in every 50 individuals struggles with hoarding behavior. In today’s modern world, the number is now one in every 20, according to the findings of the International OCD Foundation. For individuals with families, it is normal to always be concerned about the ways you can protect them and what you should protect them from. With the topic of hoarding, it’s important to be cognizant of the risks it poses to your home, your health, and your children. So what sort of risks exist?

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Dangers of Hoarding: Risks to Your Home

Your home generally has a balance that needs to be structurally sound. The presence of excessive items in your home can put weight upon rafters, support beams, and even foundations to the point of compromised structural integrity. Homes that belong to hoarders tend to have items piled up in communal areas like kitchens. Cooking can become an unsafe activity if flammable items are in close proximity to items. If you or any member of your family is a hoarder, it can affect the home insurance premiums you’ve taken out for the property. The risk for fires, water damage, and structural damage can lead the insurance company to stop providing coverage, according to West Bend.

Dangers of Hoarding: Risks to Your Health

A compulsive hoarder raises risks to their own health and the health of those around them. The number of unclean items or presence of dusty surfaces can damage the air quality of the home. In some cases, hoarders have extreme difficulty in throwing away used food containers and even leftovers. This can lead to the development of mold and mildew. In extreme cases, the presence of pests like rats, cockroaches, and other forms of vermin can be expected in a hoarder’s home. All of these things increase the risk of lung disease, parasitism, skin diseases, and other health risks for the inhabitants of the house. When there are young children in the home, hoarding disorders can greatly impact their physical development.

Dangers of Hoarding: Risks to Your Kids

Beyond issues to property and personal health, hoarding disorder will eventually impact your personal relationships. Especially, with your children. Hoarders are generally perceived to be selfish and children raised in such an environment feel neglected, according to Dr. Gail Steketee. The financial issues that eventually result from the compulsive and excessive acquisition of items can hinder proper care and shelter of children. Conflict will eventually spark in the home as children build up their resentment over a hoarder parent. In extreme cases, the state department will have to consider taking the children out of the home. Children that have lived with hoarder parents develop psychological trauma that can impact their continued growth into adulthood.

Hoarding is a disorder that requires professional help in order to address appropriately. If you spot a loved one exhibiting symptoms of hoarder behavior, it is imperative that you get them help. Keep an eye out for any hoarding signs occurring in your house as well so you can avoid the risks to your home, your health, and your children.