At Ashwood House, we have been supporting Amanda*, who has lived with us for several years. Over time, she began to collect and hold onto a variety of items, each infused with sentimental meaning, making it extremely difficult for her to part with them. These possessions, spread across her room, became a source of comfort and connection for Amanda.
However, as the accumulation increased, it began to pose growing health and safety risks, particularly fire risks, as many of the items were paper-based. This marked the beginning of a careful and compassionate Hoarding Support Journey with Liaise.
A Patient and Person-Led Approach
Regina, the Registered Manager at Ashwood House, recognised the sensitivity of the situation and the importance of addressing it with care. Understanding Amanda’s emotional attachment to her belongings, Regina initially explored gentle options, including donating or recycling some items. Amanda was understandably resistant, sharing her need to keep everything close.
After consulting with Amanda’s family, Regina completed a Mental Capacity Assessment and Best Interest decision to ensure that Amanda’s rights, well-being and safety remained central. From this, a gradual and compassionate plan was developed.
A Practical Solution That Respected Choice
To reduce risk while maintaining Amanda’s sense of security, a small shed was installed in the garden. This provided an alternative storage space where Amanda could still access her belongings whenever she wished.
Although hesitant at first, Amanda was supported step by step to move items into the shed, reassured that nothing was being taken away permanently. This solution significantly improved safety within the house while respecting Amanda’s emotional needs and independence.
Supporting Long-Term Progress
To help manage the situation moving forward, Regina introduced a simple and supportive 1:1 rule: for every new item brought into the home, one item would be donated or recycled. This prevented further clutter while gently encouraging Amanda to reassess older possessions.
Over time, a noticeable shift occurred. Amanda’s need to frequently check on her stored belongings has reduced, marking a meaningful step forward in her progress. Regina shared:
“There’s been a lot of slow negotiations and compromises initially. However, recently she’s made significant progress, and we hope to continue seeing more soon.”
The team remain hopeful that, with continued support, Amanda may one day feel ready to part with the remaining items and empty the shed, representing the next positive milestone in her journey.
Linking to Our Outcomes Pathway Tool
Amanda’s progress demonstrates how thoughtful and consistent approaches can support change across multiple areas of our Outcomes Pathway Tool, particularly where emotional attachment and safety are closely linked.
- Mental Health: Recognising hoarding as a mental health condition allowed the team to respond with understanding and patience, supporting Amanda at a pace that felt manageable and reduced distress.
- Feeling Good: Knowing her belongings were still accessible helped Amanda feel calmer and more reassured, supporting her emotional comfort and sense of stability.
- Being Safe: Reducing clutter and relocating items into a secure storage space significantly lowered fire risks and improved safety within the home.
- Growing Independence: Amanda remained involved in decisions about her belongings, including how items were stored and managed, supporting her ability to make choices about her environment.
- Living Skills: Introducing the 1:1 rule supported Amanda to manage new items more thoughtfully, helping maintain a safer and more organised living space over time.
*Name and photo changed for privacy
Understanding Hoarding as a Mental Health Condition
Hoarding is more than collecting. It is a recognised mental health disorder that can significantly affect a person’s quality of life. People with hoarding disorder accumulate a large number of items, often storing them in ways that make living spaces difficult to manage.
These objects, regardless of monetary value, carry intense emotional significance, leading to overwhelming clutter and potential safety risks. In the UK, hoarding was officially recognised as a distinct mental health disorder in 2015, separate from conditions such as OCD. It is frequently associated with other challenges, including learning disabilities, depression, anxiety and psychotic disorders.
