Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Elderly parents
Original poster

Hoarding and a fall - what to expect

32 replies

ElderlyPIL · 21/09/2026 21:32

Anyone have any advice on this situation please. An elderly relative is currently in hospital following a fall due to hoarding, they were not found for 48 hours. Property is shared ownership. Safeguarding are involved. Relative is saying they will accept carers, accept the items being moved upstairs for now and will start getting rid of things. Significant part of the collection is newspapers. But we think they will renege on the promises once they are home, we’ve let the safeguarding team know this.
As shared ownership will they force him to address the hoarding?

OP posts:
StarDolphins · 22/09/2026 21:50

My mum is a hoarder and was (she’s now immobile) a falls risk. It’s advised to not just throw their hoard out. It’s one of the hardest MH conditions and it’s often from childhood trauma. Be firm with him but work with him and explain the consequences, I.e has to have carers, wear pendant and try to let go of some of his stuff.

Mixymaxymoxy · 22/09/2026 21:48

I don’t understand what you mean by shared ownership? Who does he share the property with?

Original poster
ElderlyPIL · 22/09/2026 21:45

Council safeguarding team is involved and they say a micro living set up downstairs with just the sink to wash in is fine, so they arranged the council to move the items from downstairs to upstairs. They are taking his word he will work to empty the property (still mobile despite the falls). Although this was put on hold when the landlord (shared ownership) was engaged. This is the 2nd fall, he cancelled carers last time and wasn’t wearing the personal alarm watch. I have real concerns that he will simply keep going upstairs and into the full garage, I don’t think he will empty the property, despite his promises and we know he won’t put the heating on due to financial worries (that’s a whole other thing). I’m just wondering if anyone has experience of shared ownership properties and hoarders and what their ultimate response to the hoarding might be.

OP posts:
TurmericTansy · 22/09/2026 21:15

They won't want to discharge a patient to that kind of environment - think not only of the patient but of the the care support workers who will probably need to go in to support him. If it's unsafe for him, it's unsafe for them

PermanentTemporary · 22/09/2026 21:02

Who is saying this at the hospital?
Is it the occupational therapist attached to the ward?

I would agree with you that the chances of them getting rid of any of the hoard is probably nil - would they even be physically safe to do work like that, go up and down stairs etc?

Id prioritise some kind of pendant or wristband fall alarm tbh.

Original poster
ElderlyPIL · 21/09/2026 22:07

Hohofortherobbers · 21/09/2026 22:04

Can the property be cleared out whilst he is an in patient. Would he agree to this as a proviso for him coming home?

Hospital are saying they need to respect his wishes and not throw anything away, especially newspapers as they are his main concern. So all they will do is move items from the living room and kitchen upstairs and clean downstairs.

OP posts:
Hohofortherobbers · 21/09/2026 22:04

Can the property be cleared out whilst he is an in patient. Would he agree to this as a proviso for him coming home?