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A step by step guide to dealing with Squalor & Hoarding

INTERVENTION PROCESSES

Once the situation has been thoroughly assessed and it has been established that intervention is reasonable and warranted, intervention strategies will need to be discussed with the individual. Different types of squalor will require different types of intervention.

Hoarding

Working with situations of compulsive hoarding will require a long term management plan which involves regular and constant visits to help the individual reduce or store the collection of excessive items. In these situations, the individual will often be very resistant to the intervention and thus it must be carried out over a long period of time. Cases of compulsive hoarding will also require meetings between the individual and services to review progress, plans for short term goals and discussion regarding impediments to the process. This will help to foster continued cooperation from the client which is essential to success in these scenarios.

Squalor

Situations of squalor will require a more short term, intensive approach in which the environment is thoroughly cleaned. These situations will require on-going services being put into place immediately to ensure that the situation does not revert.