Hoarding and Squalor
Hoarding and squalor are two different things, but they can often overlap in a person’s life and home.
Hoarding disorder is a mental illness that makes it hard for people to get rid of or throw things away.
Squalor refers to an unsanitary living environment. It may result from extreme domestic neglect or when hoarding escalates to a degree that makes it difficult or impossible to clean or maintain your home. It means your living space is unsafe and unsanitary, and can quickly affect your mental and physical health.
What is hoarding?
Hoarding disorder is when people find it hard or distressing to get rid of things. They may feel that the things they keep might be useful for something or someone at some time, and worth keeping.
This causes things and rubbish to build up and start to clutter living areas. This can quickly become a health and safety issue. People can often feel shame and embarrassment about this mental health condition. They may try to hide the true nature of their situation from family and friends.
Some people describe hoarding disorder as being ‘Buried in Treasure’.
How is it identified?
To have a hoarding disorder, the amount of stuff a person keeps has taken over their ability to use their home for its intended purpose. For example, they can't prepare food in their kitchen or access their laundry or bathroom. They may not have anywhere they can sleep because their bed has been swallowed up by or buried in stuff.
Hoarding behaviours are complex, and the person living with that condition often experiences shame and isolation. Experts strongly recommend against forced interventions by family members or others, as it re-traumatises the person living with Hoarding disorder.
You can visit Health Direct to learn more about hoarding disorder here.
Where to get help
There are declutter groups and support groups online. “Buried in Treasure” is a 15-week online course. It is free and available, and in some locations, provides personal support. In-person assistance for people living with Hoarding Disorder may be available for people who qualify for Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) supports.
- Catholic Healthcare - Hoarding Squalor Support Services.
- Catholic Healthcare - Buried in Treasures Hoarding Support Program
- Buried in Treasures: Hoarding Support Program YouTube video.
- This video link was made in New Zealand; let AJ tell her story about living with Hoarding Disorder.
- Australian Carers Guide article - Senior Hoarding: understand the emotions to find solutions.
- WayAhead article and fact sheet on Hoarding Disorder.
- Anxiety Treatment Australia - Hoarding Help and Treatment.
The reference below is prepared by Blue Mountains LGA in New South Wales and gives a good overview for measuring squalor and the dangers to a resident.
Older Australians who face challenges that can lead to homelessness, such as hoarding behaviours, may receive assistance through the CHSP program.
Care Finder
The Care Finder program is part of My Aged Care supports and is available through the Primary Health Care Network (PHN) can help in providing links to health professionals, local government, and service provider assistance in an area near you.
One of the primary goals is to provide ‘assistance with care and housing’, including those at risk of homelessness due to hoarding and squalor.
You can find Care Finder organisations by State or Territory here.
