South Shore Towns to Host Hoarding Support Group

The South Shore Public Health Collaborative, created by Cohasset, Hingham, and Scituate in 2021, is launching a 12-week in-person hoarding support group at the Scituate Senior Center to help residents address clutter and hoarding behaviors.

According to a Cohasset Anchor report, the program, led by Scituate social work clinician Suzanne Otte, starts Feb. 10 at 4 p.m. The group will use the book Buried in Treasures to guide discussions on defining hoarding, its development, and strategies to reduce clutter. Space is limited, and registration is required. To register, call or text 508-964-3336.

As the Cohasset Anchor notes, this community health initiative builds on a long-standing effort to address hoarding across the three towns. The effort includes the work of multi-department response teams, Boston University research training, treatment and support groups, peer leader training, and community forums. Additional support is provided from MassHousing, Blue Hills Community Health Alliance, South Shore Elder Services, and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), hoarding disorders affect an estimated 2% to 6% of the population. According to the Massachusetts Housing Partnership Center for Housing Data, residents ages 50 and older make up nearly half of the population in Cohasset, Hingham, and Scituate. Assuming this percentage, hoarding may impact approximately 1,000 to 3,000 people across these towns, the Cohasset Anchor estimated.