Levels Of Hoarding: What Are 5 Stages Of Hoarding

Hoarding isn’t a habit, and not a hoarder is a dirty person who loves to live surrounded by useless things and unusable kitchens, bathrooms, or even homes. It’s important to understand that hoarding is a mental disorder, not a choice, and one needs proper mental care and treatment to get rid of this ailment.

People who mostly live alone, introverts, perfectionists, and obese are likely to develop hoarding disorder. Moreover, people who have childhood trauma related to stuff or have a friend or family member with hoarding disorder are also easy prey for this disorder. If they remain untreated, they will suffer from different issues, from emotional to physical, financial to legal. Their social life, work, and relations all get into trouble and even lead to safety hazards in their living areas, like fires, tripping, bacterial growth, insect and rodent infestation, and structural damage. Moreover, their disorder also affects the people living in their surroundings, either in their homes or in neighbors or anyone associated with them in any way.

Don't interpret hoarding as what it is described on TV shows; it's a mental health disorder, and everyone needs awareness of it. We have listed and defined the levels of hoarding and the 5 stages of hoarding, which help you to check whether you are prey to this disorder or not. This article will also help you to protect yourself, your friends, and your family from this disorder and determine the right time to intervene.

What is Hoarding?

Hoarding is a disorder that affects both genders equally. People collect items that are not all useless but mostly useless. Some are important, but they aren't needed in big quantities. The items can be anything from clothing to boxes, photographs to newspapers, household appliances to trash. People categorize them as something extremely sentimental like pets, trivia like newspapers, and entirely useless like trash. However, it can start in the teenage years it gets stronger and worse with time. A person may fall prey to hoarding disorder, but in some cases, it comes in combination with other disorders like depression, ADHD (attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder), OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder), etc.

Anxiety and Depression Association of America gives a definition of hoarding in these words: hoarding isn't keeping invaluable stuff; it's a compulsive disorder of buying and acquiring useless stuff. Hoarders search and save things that are of no value. This behavior brings a lot of trouble, from emotional and physical to social and financial, and even legal, for both hoarders and their relatives.

Levels Of Hoarding: 5 Stages Of Hoarding

When it comes to levels of hoarding, there are five different stages depending on the amount of clutter and how much access you have in your home: minimal stuff, mild clutter, moderate clutter, serious or severe, and extreme stuff. Depending on these levels, one person decides when he or she needs proper treatment or professional help.

Hoarding Scale or CIRS

A hoarding scale was created to make people understand the severity of hoarding disorder. According to this scale, a person develops 5 stages of hoarding depending upon their behavior.

Another way to understand this is the “Clutter Image Rating Scale (CIRS),” which helps people get an idea of their hoarding stage by offering them a picture for objective comparison. The CIRS is developed to screen the level of hoarding material in a home. Basically, it's a collage of 9 pictures that show the three common areas like the living room, bedroom, and kitchen of a home. People can see the picture and compare their home’s kitchen, living room, and bathroom condition with the picture to understand their hoarding stage. The first picture shows the least clutter, and the 9 shows the most clutter, which is an extreme level of hoarding. From 2 to 8 pictures, the level of hoarding increases at each point. Those who have clutter similar to picture 4 or higher need immediate assistance as they are already prey to hoarding disorder.

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Image credit: Clutter Image Rating Scale (CIRS) by Philadelphiahoarding.org

Level 1: Least Severe, Minimal Clutter with Few Indicators (pictures #1, 2, &3 in CIRS)

This is the lowest stage at which a person isn't described as a hoarder and doesn't need others’ assistance. The person buys and collects particular items continuously without any need but isn't able to organize or discard them. The clutter isn't visible to other people, but the storage areas are jam-packed with various items, such as closets, cabinets, bookshelves, and storage sheds. You see cleanliness, but the things are disorganized; overall, the home is safe and sanitary. You are at level one of hoarding if you have the following conditions:

● light clutter

● Rooms and stairways are cleaned

● windows and doors are clearly accessible

● exits aren’t blocked

● ventilation is good

● home has carbon monoxide and fire detectors

● no noticeable unpleasant odors

● No electrical or plumbing issue (In case of any, it is easily serviceable)

● All appliances are working fine

● No mold and mildew

● pets live in the area but in an appropriate number

● three or fewer areas in the home have managed animal waste

The home has a temporary small amount of clutter that is easy for the person in question to recognize. A continuous housekeeping routine is essential at this point.

Level 2: Mild Clutter, Deteriorating hygiene, & Embarrassment (picture #4 in CIRS)

At stage 2, the person isn't diagnosed with a hoarder disorder but needs professional cleaners to organize things and clean the filth. At this stage, people develop stress and anxiety, and due to embarrassment, they avoid social contact and don't let visitors visit their homes.

Socially, they try to remain absent, and their hoarding behaviors are pretty visible. The following signs show whether a person has reached stage 2 of hoarding.

● Clutter is quite visible to everyone who visits home, in excess amounts in one or two rooms.

● One area of the home is inaccessible, like a hallway.

● One important exit area, including window, door, or stairway, is blocked.

● All appliances are functioning properly except one that is out of order.

● noticeable issue with the plumbing and electrical system

● Laundry and dishes are dirty and need washing and cleaning.

● noticeable odor spread throughout the home

● You can find pet feces and hair inside the home.

● garbage overflow

● A ventilation system hasn't been working properly for at least six months, thus disturbing the cooling and heating system of the home.

● Mold and mildew grow in the bathroom and kitchen.

● There is not too much clutter, but still, the common areas, like the living room, bedroom, and kitchen, aren't functioning properly.

The house is going to be unsafe and unsanitary, and there will be difficulty in accessing all spaces in the home. At level 2, the person has a housekeeping routine but is inconsistent with the thinking that the living space is deteriorating in hygiene. As house care is inconsistent, these conditions make the homeowners embarrassed, and that's why they avoid visitors entering their homes.

Level 3: Odors, Extreme disorganization, Poor Hygiene, & Hoarding disorder (picture #5 & 6 in CIRS)

At this stage, the environment is messy and cluttered and can be described as a hoarding environment. There is too much stuff, and it is noticeably disorganized; you will also observe behavior changes in the person. At this particular stage of hoarding, the person isn't only suffering from emotional distress but also at the peak of developing many health issues, including weight control issues, because of poor personal hygiene and poor diet. The more troubling thing is that they aren't able to see the dangers of hoarding and even defend their lifestyle if you confront them.

The physical signs which tell you whether the area is hoarded or not are

● Accumulation of too many things

● Spilling of items outside the home, like in decks, porches, and backyards.

● multiple appliances have no longer be functioning properly for the past 6 months

● clutter in multiple spaces in the home makes them unusable

● one bedroom or bathroom is no longer usable or may be used for storing items

● overflowing garbage causes poor sanitation

● unclean floors and surfaces

● light structural damage in one part of the home

● pets are in excessive numbers and mostly unclean

● visible flea, rodent, or spider infestation

● visible bed bugs, ants, lice, and cockroach infestations

● Noticeable odors were found throughout the home

● hallways are narrowed due to accumulated clutter

● excessive dust and no cleaning

● dirty clothing

● heavily soiled flooring or food preparation areas

At this stage, one needs medical assistance and cleaning professionals. If you observe that someone you know is more isolated, buys too many useless items and is unable to throw them away, doesn't allow you to visit their home, and doesn't like to open the Camera while video calls, then it's time to play your part in their lives to save them from being more indulge in such a problem.

Level 4: Excessive clutter, Structural damage, Need Professional Help (picture #7 in CIRS)

This stage of hoarding comes with unsafe and unsanitary home environments. People at such a stage may be declared hoarders. They live without bathing for weeks, which causes health issues. Their biggest issue is that they can't realize that their environment is dangerous or unsanitary and needs professional care.

At this stage, the place is unable to live for anyone, so in order to make it liveable again, the following services are required

● cleaning and protective services,

● Housing agencies

● animal control

● elderly services

Let's see what signs show that you are at stage 4 of hoarding.

● Homes have experienced structural damage for the past 6 months, such as broken doors, plumbing issues, water damage, etc.

● Most rooms are inaccessible.

● Too much clutter, which makes entry and exit points inaccessible

● Electrical wiring problems

● Noticeable rotten and spoiled food in the kitchen or anywhere in the home.

● Pets are in excessive numbers, and so is their waste.

● Odor and sewer backup at different points

● Bathrooms are no longer usable.

● Visible mildew and mold infestation on walls and other surfaces in the home

● Three areas have visible excessive pet waste.

● Clutter makes hallways narrow and causes difficulty in traveling.

● The risk of fire hazards increases as piles of clutter can easily catch fire, and blockage makes it difficult for you to get access to fire extinguishers if you have one.

● Most stairways are blocked, so you may get only one trail to walk and get access to different locations in the home, which causes health hazards.

● visible extensive pest infestation

● infestation of fleas, bed bugs, and lice on bedding

● visible insects waste, residue, webs, etc

● rodent infestation

Homeowners at such hoarding stages are prey to anxiety, thinking of useless items as important for future use. These people often have grandiose ideas and are occupied with nostalgic memories. They easily become distressed when anyone tries to touch their belongings or discard them. Therapists and mental health experts are required people at such a point who can help hoarders get rid of their hoarding behaviors. Moreover, there is a dire need to hire professional hoarding cleaners to clean the place properly. Financial counselors are also important for cleaning costs or home repair services.

Level 5: Hoarding Diagnosed & Extreme Clutter (picture #8 & 9 in CIRS)

At this stage of hoarding, the environment is unlivable and intolerable. You call this house a prison and the hoarder is a prisoner who is confined in it. This is the highest stage on the hoarding scale, and the house in this position is in a severe condition. The hoarding disorder of such a level badly affects a person’s life, physically and emotionally, and even causes legal troubles or proceedings like guardianship, divorce, eviction, or custody because the home is no longer a liveable place for anyone. At this point, the close ones of hoarders, like friends and family, should intervene in the house and also hire professionals for the cleaning process. The signs of this last stage are

● Extreme level of indoor clutter, need to climb or crawl to pass the clutter to go to the other side of the home

● most living spaces are no longer accessible and useful

● No ventilation

● Irreparable severe structural damage to the home

● electrical and water services are disconnected

● mildew and mold infestation of extreme level

● excessive number of pets and their waste everywhere

● pet's health is at risk

● Clutter is everywhere outside or inside the home, on floorspace or in the hallway

● Crumbling or broken ceilings or walls

● risk of major fire hazards due to accumulation of paper near open flames

● no room is accessible; even the kitchen and bathroom are no longer useable

● noticeable animal and human feces because of unmaintained plumbing

● human and animal waste in containers that aren't disposed of down the toilet lies in the home

● animal infestation

● rodent infestation

● insects infestation

● bed bugs and spiders and sometimes more dangerous insects grow under piles of trash

● most appliances need repairing

● most exit points are blocked

The situation is so bad that no one can live in the home, not even the hoarder.

The house is full of dangers at stage 5 of hoarding, so it's important for everyone to wear personal protective equipment while entering the environment, like gloves, masks, hand sanitizer, safety goggles, and a first aid kit. Don't try to declutter and clean the home by yourself; instead, hire professionals, as cleaning requires chemicals and specialized tools. With proper strategy and equipment, they safely restore your home to its previous condition and remove all junk and harmful bacteria.

Signs of Hoarding Disorder

● Acquisition: A person who acquires things due to an emotional bond. Those people are unable to discard these objects. Therapy can help a person with this problem.

● Clutter: All of the stuff accumulates in different areas of your home. The clutter may be an excess of one type of item or many items like trash, food, or any other collection.

● Difficulty in Discarding: To outsiders, the clutter might seem like random objects, but for the hoarder, each item holds personal significance. Whether it's due to fear of scarcity, codependence, or another compulsion, these belongings have deep emotional value for hoarders.

● Disorganization: Starting from a few items, the clutter begins to pile up and reach a point where it makes the area inaccessible. A person is unable to organize things or doesn't like to organize items.

● Decision-Making is difficult: Making a decluttering decision is difficult for a hoarder. A hoarder lacks a comprehensive strategy to declutter their home effectively.

● Social Isolation: The hoarders are isolated from society as they feel ashamed and embarrassed due to their hoarding behavior or inaccessible homes. The more challenging thing is that they don't like to talk to their friends and family, who can really help them in this matter.

Effects of Hoarding

If you are confirmed that you have developed a hoarding disorder, it's time to take action. Remember that hoarding affects a person's life in many ways: his personal to professional life, relationships, physical and mental health, everything starts affected. Moreover, as the level of hoarding passes, the safety concerns also enhance. Hoarding isn't only dangerous for the hoarders but it causes serious health issues to people living with or around hoarders and structural damage to the property. Irrespective of age and demographics, hoarding can affect anybody but more often develops in older individuals.

Hoarders start isolating themselves from close ones and society, which further leads to increased chances of unattended deaths. Hoarding causes death due to unsafe conditions and keeps it unattended as nobody comes to check on the person due to their isolated behavior.

At such a point, not only therapists and mental health professionals are important but the professional hoarding cleaning service is also necessary.

Who Should You Call For Hoarding Cleanup

Hoarding cleanup is an important and essential task to do, but letting the hoarder or their families do the cleanup themselves is too risky. Not only are hoarders attached to their stuff emotionally, but the physical and health hazards associated with it due to hazardous material also cause serious problems. So, it's recommended to ask professionals to arrive and clean up the hoarding junk present in the house.

When it comes to the best service in town, 911 Bio & Trauma Cleaners has no match. They have a team of professionals with the required tools and safety gear to clean the hoarder's home efficiently.

We have been serving the nation as the best bio-clean-up service for the past 15 years in 10 cities and have successfully handled more than 1000 cases, from mild to serious. When we come for your help, we will efficiently clean and sanitize your house and make it liveable again.

Hoarding contains not only junk stuff, rotten food, and human and animal waste but, to some extent, useful material. When we clear the hoarding stuff, we’ll clear the junk and clean the useful material without causing any damage to it and your property.

Hoarding also accumulates debris, forms gasses, causes odor and sets houses on fire. 911 Bio & Trauma Cleaners efficiently perform cleaning at all levels and clear all such mentioned materials.

You just remember one thing: stay strong and keep fighting with your hoarding disorder, and get healthy soon. Leave the rest of the burden on our shoulders, and we'll clean up the hoarding with the required tools and safety gear.