A collector’s junk pile of clothes, bags, household items, vintage electronics and miscellaneous items.
(NewsNation) — New Senate Report They warn that hoarding disorder is on the rise among older Americans and are calling for urgent national action.
Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pennsylvania), chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Aging, released the report, the first time Congress has discussed the disease.
“My report is a first step in raising awareness of hoarding disorder,” Casey said. He told Axios.
Hoarding disorderDepression, a mental illness that makes it difficult to let go of possessions, affects about 2% of the general U.S. population. 6% of adults aged 70 or olderExperts predict that incidence will increase as the American population ages.
These disturbances can create unsafe living conditions that can lead to health problems, social isolation, and difficulties in obtaining first aid in emergencies, and can also impact public health through the spread of mold and pests to nearby spaces.
The report criticizes federal agencies for their inadequate response: The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and the Department of Community Living have no specific programs to address hoarding, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention does not offer up-to-date online resources on the issue.
To address these growing concerns, the report recommends:
- Improved data collection on the impact of hoarding on older adults and emergency personnel
- Awareness Campaign
- Federal training and support for local service providers
- Expanding Medicare and Medicaid coverage for hoarding treatments
- Direct engagement with affected individuals and their families
The report said that America’s aging population will require the federal government to prioritize issues that have so far been overlooked, such as hoarding disorder.
