Question: Hi. I am a fire inspector and I am concerned with people who save things (piles of paper, old clothes, rotting food, boxes, etc.). Recently, I went to an apartment which looks like a dump; it’s a big fire hazard. We have to make the tenants clean the place. Could you tell me what … Read more

Question: Hi. My roommate, who has been a friend of mine for several years, is exhibiting signs of being a hoarder (piles of newspapers, saving all mail, not being able to sleep in her bed because of having too much random stuff on it). I actually had to move out because it got so bad. … Read more

Question: My daughter is 40 years old and has an IQ of about 49. She keeps everything bought or given to her. There is only a small pathway to her bedroom; barley enough room to pass. It is a fire hazard as well as unhealthy. I cannot get her to get rid of even one … Read more

Question: When I was 12, I went through a period of OCD hoarding symptoms. I kept everything from plastic forks to rotting food and on several occasions raided the garbage in the middle of the night. I was not formally diagnosed, but I got better on the advice my parents received that I needed more … Read more

Question: I have heard it said that the extreme collection of live animals, such as the cliche about the “little old lady with her 50 cats,” is a form of Hoarding OCD. Can anyone address this idea? A relative of mine does this. Answer 1: The accumulation of large numbers of cats or less commonly … Read more

Question: My elderly mother’s house was condemned (hoarding and vermin infestation). She refuses medical treatment or other help. Although we tried to help her, she is now not speaking to us, tells people we have stolen “everything” (which not true). Her health is bad. She is nearly blind from cataracts, but she is very articulate, … Read more

Question: My husband at age 50 has been diagnosed with OCD hoarding. We are at the start of his treatment. He is trying therapy and medications. As the spouse of someone with this, how should I be supportive yet understand that his behavior has taken our family down with him. (We have a garage and … Read more

Question: Are there health dangers for an elderly person living in a very filthy house? When should a relative intervene to protect the health of an elderly person? Answer 1: It’s hard to give a definitive answer without knowing what is causing the “filth” — if there are rats, cockroaches, etc., that could certainly be … Read more

Question: When I search on “hoarding,” most of the questions involve adults living in situations of homes being crowded with newspapers, garbage, etc. There is also little information, in general, about hoarding in some of the OCD books I have. My 9 year old son hoards (or, at the very least, can’t bring himself to … Read more