Where can I get more information about hoarding.  A family member's
house is overflowing and I'd like to know what I can do to help her. 
It's worse than just "collecting stuff".  I'm afraid she might get
evicted.

A web site called Clutterbug.net [ http://www.clutterbug.net ] offers
many interesting tips on getting rid of clutter. They also list some
books on the subject:
http://www.clutterbug.net/books/

PBS' web site offers a little quiz to determine whether you're a "pack
rat."
http://www.pbs.org/opb/life360/junk/insights/insights.htm

A web site called "Rustic Girls" has an article entitled, "Helping A
Pack Rat Get Organized" by Maria Gracia:
http://www.rusticgirls.com/article1019.html

In an article entitled "Elders and the Drive to Hoard," Ray Raschko
discusses the psychological aspects of hoarding:
http://www.asaging.org/at/at-216/ifhoard.html

On the following web page, hoarding is also discussed:
http://www.biologicalunhappiness.com/AskDoc/Mom&Junk.htm

Finally, on a humorous side, there's always membership in Pack Rats
Anonymous:
http://www.onlineorganizing.com/Product_Packrats_Kit.htm
Search terms used: hoarding "pack rat"
://www.google.com/search?client=googlet&q=hoarding%20%22pack%20rat%22

I hope this helps. Good luck.

Many thanks for the speedy reply.  The elders article and hoarders
site were the most useful.  The clutterbug sites are good for me since
I've inherited some of this myself.

You're welcome. And thank you for your comments.
Here are a few more links you might try:
http://abcnews.go.com/sections/gma/healthywoman/gma010522hoarders_feature.html
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Messiness-and-Hoarding/
http://www.metroactive.com/papers/sonoma/03.16.00/clutterbusters-0011.html

Hi Linker and Juggler,

Total non sequitur here, but I'd hate cleaning up after Col. Boyd. 
Happened onto his papers while researching another question.  At least
he had a quality hoarding inventory.  Salute!

http://www.belisarius.com/modern_business_strategy/boyd/boyd_papers.htm

Best wishes,
V

Why do they hoard? They might have Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.
Hoarding is a common symptom of this. Look it up on about.com.

Here's a link I ran across today and thought of this question.  Hope
everything's going well.  http://www.flylady.net/index.asp

Regards,
V

Alas, I to am a recovering hoarder

There is a book   "The Secret Handbook for the Perpetually Paralyzed
Procrastinating Pack Rats Anonymous"

It changed my life.  The book covers methods of dealing with this
affliction and the philosophy of owning stuff. I got mine from Amazon
but have seen it available in a number of other places. It's about 20
bucks and the author is Nudelman
It also is a great tutorial on organization

deauxed

There is also a website associated with the Packrats book

www.packratsanonymous.com