A Meta-Review on Hoarding in Older Adults : Interventions and Influencing Factors

This study sought to identify practical methods and influencing factors for intervening in hoarding behavior. To achieve this, a meta-review was conducted. A meta-review is a research methodology that summarizes and presents findings from existing systematic reviews. An electronic search was conducted in PubMed, SCOPUS, and Web of Science, using the following search phrase: “hoarding” OR “self-neglect” OR “squalor” AND “older adults” AND “systematic review.” A narrative synthesis was conducted to identify effective interventions and influncing factors. The initial search yielded 102 studies. After the screening processes, four studies were eligible for review. The analysis revealed that cognitive-behavioral therapy emerged as an effective intervention method for hoarding behavior. From the data synthesis, four factors that positively influence the intervention emerged: 1) adherence to manualized cognitive-behavioral therapy; 2) demographic characteristics (gender, age); 3) individual and group therapy, treatment duration, and frequency of home visits; and 4) pharmacological treatment. Conversely, factors that negatively affected the intervention included: 1) a small sample size; 2) higher dropout rates; and 3) a lack of focus on intervention. Based on the results, this study provides an effective intervention method and implications applicable in social work settings. Also, it proposes strategies to mitigate factors that negatively impact interventions and suggests the establishment of an educational system to enhance practitioners’ capabilities.