Hoarding Disorder in Older Adulthood

Objective: Hoarding disorder (HD) is a chronic condition associated with moderate to severe impairment in health and functioning. HD has been primarily studied in midlife adults, and there is limited research on HD in late life. Methods: In this review, we summarize research on the presentation and characteristics of HD and hoarding symptoms in older adults, including evidence for associated impairment in daily functioning, physical health, and cognitive function. Finally, we review the evidence available for intervention outcomes for treating HD in older adults. Results: Geriatric HD is characterized by severe functional impairment, medical and psychiatric comorbidities, and cognitive dysfunction. Conclusion: There is a lack of randomized controlled trials investigating evidence-based treatments for geriatric HD.