Identifying hoarding disorder in the elderly using the interRAI.

OBJECTIVES

Hoarding disorder (HD) is prevalent in older adults and contributes to morbidity and mortality. We attempted to estimate rates of hoarding amongst the elderly using the international Residential Assessment Instrument - Home Care (interRAI-HC).

SETTING

The interRAI is a mandatory prerequisite in New Zealand (NZ) for government-funded community support or for entry into aged residential care.

PARTICIPANTS

All 50 years and older people who were assessed using the interRAI in the southern district health board of NZ.

MEASUREMENTS: The age, gender, socially inappropriate or disruptive behaviour and squalor interRAI-HC items were analysed.

RESULTS

During the 3 years study period (Jan., 2015 to Dec., 2017) 6655 people, mean age 81.4 + 7.6 years, 56% female, were assessed. The interRAI socially inappropriate behaviour (includes hoarding as one of its descriptors) was present in 233 people (3.5%), herein defined as suspected HD. Squalid conditions were present in 98 additional people (1.5%). Mean age for suspected HD group was significantly younger [76.1 + 6.3 years (p < 0.001)] and there were more males [57% (p < 0.05)] compared with the general interRAI group.

CONCLUSIONS

Rates of HD estimated by using the interRAI are in line with published international data. As identification of HD with the interRAI is not straightforward it's use as a screening tool for identifying HD should be validated in future studies.