Author – SALT Member – Bec Norton, Aged Care Counselling and Advocacy SA
When an older person living with hoarding behaviours can no longer remain safely at home, families are often forced to make urgent and emotionally charged decisions. What begins as concern about clutter frequently escalates into serious risks involving falls, fire hazards, health concerns, and an inability to access appropriate care.
At Aged Care Counselling and Advocacy SA, we regularly support families navigating this difficult transition. The move from a hoarded home into residential aged care is rarely simple. It often involves questions about capacity, consent, legal authority, property management, and the emotional wellbeing of the person at the centre of it all. This practical guide is designed to help families understand the process, avoid common pitfalls, and approach the transition with advocacy, dignity, and informed support.
Understanding Hoarding, Capacity, and Decision-Making
Hoarding is a recognised mental health condition and should never be dismissed as stubbornness or poor housekeeping. In older adults, hoarding frequently co-exists with cognitive decline, dementia, trauma, or anxiety—factors that can significantly impact a person’s ability to make informed decisions.
Families and professionals should consider:
- Does the person understand the risks present in their home?
- Can they weigh information and communicate decisions about their accommodation and care?
- Is a medical or psychological capacity assessment required?
Where capacity is impaired, families may need to seek formal authority through guardianship or administration processes before decisions about aged care placement or property can legally proceed. Early advice can prevent unnecessary conflict and delays.
Prioritising Safety Without Escalating Distress
In hoarded environments, safety must always come first—but how risks are addressed matters. Abrupt or forceful clean-outs can be highly traumatic and may worsen anxiety or resistance.
Common safety concerns include:
- Obstructed walkways and exits
- Increased risk of falls
- Fire hazards caused by accumulated belongings
- Unsanitary conditions, mould, or infestations
Where the person is still living at home, initial interventions should focus on risk reduction, not perfection—clearing access paths, ensuring exits are usable, and reducing immediate hazards. If the person has already moved into hospital or respite care, planning can shift toward longer-term solutions for the property.
Preparing a Hoarded Home for Sale or Vacancy
Families are often shocked by the complexity of preparing a hoarded home for sale. The process is rarely quick and almost always emotionally charged.
A supported, staged approach is essential:
- Professional assessment – Understanding the scale of hoarding, safety risks, and realistic timelines.
- Supported decision-making – Involving the person wherever possible, within clear boundaries.
- Specialist clean-outs – Hoarded homes typically require experienced teams who understand mental health impacts.
- Property readiness – Addressing compliance, repairs, and safety issues prior to sale or handover.
From an advocacy perspective, it is critical that decisions are lawful, proportionate, and in the person’s best interests—particularly where capacity is limited or contested.
Supporting the Transition Into Aged Care
For someone with hoarding behaviours, moving into aged care can feel like a profound loss of control, identity, and security. The emotional impact should not be underestimated.
Advocacy-informed strategies include:
- Allowing selected meaningful items to move into care
- Preparing the room with familiar belongings before admission
- Providing clear, consistent explanations without confrontation
- Ensuring aged care providers understand the person’s history, triggers, and support needs
Ongoing emotional and psychological support is often required well beyond the admission date.
When Advocacy and Professional Support Are Essential
Families should not have to manage this process alone. Early, coordinated support often prevents crises and reduces long-term emotional and financial cost.
Support may include:
- An independent aged care advocate to guide decisions and protect rights
- Health professionals to assess capacity and risk
- Hoarding and decluttering specialists with mental health expertise
- Legal advice and SACAT applications regarding guardianship, administration, or property matters
The transition from hoarding to aged care is rarely straightforward, but it can be managed safely and respectfully with the right guidance. By prioritising safety, understanding capacity, and approaching the home and care decisions through an advocacy lens, families can reduce trauma and achieve better outcomes for everyone involved—especially the older person whose life is undergoing profound change.
At Aged Care Counselling and Advocacy SA, we work alongside families to navigate these complexities with clarity, compassion, and firm advocacy. Need help, get in touch via our listing here.
