Helping Someone Who Hoards

It can be incredibly hard to watch someone you love make decisions that are self-destructive. It can also be incredibly hurtful when someone chooses their stuff over their relationship with you. I have seen family members and outreach workers in despair; completely overwhelmed and unsure of where to even start.

As a professional working hands-on in this difficult area, I know that hoarding is a problem that can’t be fixed by simply cleaning up the mess. While hoarding causes distress and impairment, the clutter seen is usually the physical manifestation of more serious problems including OCD, depression, and anxiety. But I know there are simple things that anyone entering a hoarding home can do to create positive change.

There is a lot of information out there about hoarding disorder but very little of it tells you what to do when you find yourself knee-deep in a hoarding home with a reluctant client or loved one. Together with my colleague Angela Esnouf, I have developed Hoarding Home Solutions – A Practical Approach to a Complex Problem.

Visit the Hoarding Home Solutions website resources and training. Specific courses have been tailored for:

• Friends and Family Members of People Who Hoard
• Independent Service Providers Working With People Living in Hoarded Homes
• Support Professionals Caring for Clients Who Hoard

Click here for more information.