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0Decluttering services for hoarders turning a tidy profit
为“囤积族”整理收纳带来商机
' Shopping therapy' for lonely elders, stressed workers sees rise in messy homes
“购物疗法”在孤独老人和压力重重的上班族中日益流行，导致居家环境日益杂乱
Jin Wei and his wife were in a state of shock as they dug through the piles of trash in his mother-in-law's apartment. From moldy rice infested with bugs, to bags of expired snacks, an old spittoon, a large bundle of used toothbrushes, stained floors, and a dirty washing table, the couple had been slaving away since February and a month later were still only halfway through the cleanup.
今年2月，金伟（音译）与妻子开始清理岳母的住所，却被屋内的景象震惊：发霉生虫的米饭、过期零食堆成山、陈旧的痰盂、一大捆用过的牙刷、污渍斑斑的地板与脏乱的洗漱台。他们辛苦一个月，却才完成一半的清理任务。
Apart from the toil, they had to deal with his mother-in-law's regular protests about not throwing out her clutter. His mother-in-law's hoarding tendencies became more pronounced after her husband passed away in 2016. "She lost her emotional anchor, and she stopped going out and poured all her energy into shopping and accumulating things," he recalled.
他们卖力却不讨好，岳母对他们“扔东西”的行为频频抗议。金伟回忆道，自从岳父2016年去世后，岳母的囤积行为愈加严重。“她失去了精神寄托，逐渐足不出户，把全部精力都投入到购物和囤积物品上。”
Elderly individuals, often grappling with loneliness and a lack of social support, are increasingly prone to developing psychological issues such as hoarding disorders, according to experts. Zhou Ying, a specialist with the Shanghai-based Huangpu district mental health center, said many retirees feel isolated, helpless, and anxious due to distant relationships with their children, loss of loved ones, or shrinking social circles. This emotional void drives them to seek security, control, and a sense of accomplishment through hoarding.
专家指出，独居老年人往往因缺乏社交支持而更易产生心理问题，包括囤积障碍。上海黄浦区心精神卫生中心专家周颖表示，不少退休老人因与子女关系疏远、亲人离世或社交圈萎缩而感到孤立、无助与焦虑。情感空虚驱使他们试图通过囤积来寻找安全感、掌控感和成就感。
Physiological factors also play a significant role. With cognitive decline, the elderly are likely to have difficulties managing their belongings effectively, exacerbating hoarding behaviors, Zhou said, adding that understanding and support from family members, and lifestyle adjustments can help address the issue.
此外，生理因素也是诱因之一。随着认知能力下降，老年人往往难以有效管理物品，进一步加剧囤积行为。周颖建议，家人的理解与支持、以及生活方式的调整，都是缓解这一问题的关键。
Xie Feng, from Shenyang, Liaoning province, has helped more than 6,000 families with hoarding problems since he stumbled into a growing demand for decluttering services in 2021. Xie and his partner founded Lixiangjia (Ideal Home) cleaning business, targeting affluent clients who valued a pristine home environment. But as word spread, his client base expanded to include a broader demographic. "I started getting calls from young professionals and elderly couples whose homes were overrun with possessions," he said.
来自辽宁沈阳的谢峰（音译）自2021年涉足整理收纳服务以来，已帮助6000多个家庭应对囤积困扰。他与合伙人创办的“理想家”清洁公司，起初定位为服务高端客户打造整洁居所。随着口碑传播，客户群体逐渐扩大。“我开始接到来自年轻职场人士和年长夫妇的电话，他们的家中堆满了物品，”他说。
He has noticed distinct patterns among his clients. For younger hoarders, the issue often stems from a desire to compensate for having less in their childhood. Older clients, however, lived through times of material scarcity, so they hold onto everything, even expired food or broken appliances. Looking ahead, he plans to expand his services to include education. "We want to teach people how to use their storage space effectively and maintain order in their homes," he said. "It's about empowering them to take control of their lives."
谢峰观察到，不同年龄段的客户囤积原因各异：年轻人多因童年物质匮乏，希望通过拥有物品来弥补；而年长者则因曾经历物资短缺年代，对任何东西都不舍得丢弃，哪怕是过期食物或损坏家电。展望未来，谢峰计划将业务拓展至教育培训。“我们希望教会大家如何合理使用收纳空间、维持居家秩序，这不仅关乎环境，更是帮助他们重拾生活掌控感。”
