Reasons to accumulate excess: older adults who hoard possessions.
This article is directed towards a deeper understanding of emotional issues that underpin hoarding behaviors by older people. A focused ethnographic research design was used as the method of exploration. The sample consisted of eight older adults who received home care and who were identified as exhibiting compulsive hoarding behaviors. The act of acquiring excess was found to be reassuring for older hoarders because stockpiled possessions relieved their anxieties and helped them to feel proud and productive, needed by others, connected, socially engaged, and in control. The hoarded possessions had value that was embedded but undeclared. Older hoarders were likely to have a positive view of themselves and their hoarding habits. For those who were not in imminent danger, hoarding constituted a certain quality of life.
Andersen
Elizabeth
E
Faculty of Nursing, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. eaa@ualberta.ca
Raffin-Bouchal
Shelley
S
Marcy-Edwards
Donna
D
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000884:Anthropology, Cultural; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003152:Community Health Nursing; D003192:Compulsive Behavior / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006184:Habits; D006699:Home Care Services; D006796:Household Work; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012107:Research Design; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires