Children in hoarded homes: A call for protection, prevention, intervention and compassionate care

Abstract

AbstractThis is a call for action to protect and assist children of hoarding parents. Action that minimises harm to children living in hoarded homes also promotes family safety and health. Optimal care involves the whole family system, both children and parents. Prevention of harm through early identification and intervention for hoarding can reduce the burden of a disorder that often increases in severity over a lifetime and deprives humans of a full and safe life. Helping children and their parents severely affected by hoarding disorder is for the public good. Public policy and funded programmes can reduce long-term and immense costs to children, families and the many systems hoarding affects. Specifically, public policy can facilitate and fund outreach, education, coordination of providers of health, social and public services, and research-driven methods for assessment and intervention on behalf of children, individuals and families. Releasing people from the grips of hoarding disorder can enable them to devote generative resources to themselves, their families and their communities. Ultimately, prevention of hoarding through early assessment and intervention for minors and young adults is the most efficient, long-term and cost-effective method for minimising harm. When unidentified, hoarding disorder intensifies, people go into hiding, risk increases and opportunity for detection and intervention decreases. Informing the public about hoarding disorder must be followed with sufficient resources to address it, otherwise, helplessness ensues, and people will likely remain in the hidden world it governs.