Why do seniors hoard? There are no simple answers, but:

• To take the place of people who have been lost in their lives.

• Difficulty in making decisions and being organized.

• Fear that something will become valuable over time.

• Fear that something will be needed later.

• Fear of loss of control

What hoarders keep is often incomprehensible to a non-hoarder: Plastic (food containers, grocery bags, laundry bottles, newspaper sleeves), books, empty jars, office supplies, broken jewelry, electronics and televisions that don't work, catalogs, containers of coins, old things (shoes, clothing, purses, keys).

Clutter and hoarding are not the same. The biggest difference is in the willingness to get rid of things when offered help. A person who is a genuine hoarder will strongly resist assistance, will deny there's a problem and often needs counseling to come to terms with the hoarding. Just cleaning out the debris of a hoarder doesn't solve the problem. A hoarder will simply begin building up the clutter again in a very short time. It takes professional intervention to address the obsessive-compulsive mental-health issues involved.

Safety is a big issue with hoarding. Narrow pathways through rooms could keep emergency medical personnel from responding when help is required. Fire is a big risk, as are falls and mice or cockroaches. Avalanches of falling debris are not unheard of.

If you believe you have a problem, ask for help now. The first step is the hardest, but it's easier than taking the chance of being removed from your home because it's unsafe.