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Social Workers Should Manage Prejudice Before Intervening

November 11, 2019 By Richard Farrell

The director of hoarding support group Clouds End, Heather Matuozzo believes social workers should put their own prejudices to bed before they can help compulsive hoarders effectively. They must confront and deal with their own problems first, she says. Or else they will be unable to relate to their clients as they should.

We believe this applies logically to hoarders’ friends and family too. Hoarders are sensitive people like the rest of us. If they feel a person despises or disparages them, then they are likely to withdraw into themselves. Much the same applies to targets of other prejudice right around the world, in our opinion.

This Might Be Step Change. But It Is a Challenge Too

Heather Matuozzo acknowledges prejudice may not be easy for social workers to confront and deal with. However, she calls on them to retain their optimism and enthusiasm. She mentions as example a local news item where a landlord described a hoarding tenant as ‘not even human’.

This type of stigma is still unfortunately very real, she admits. And she blames mainstream media and reality TV shows for perpetuating the idea that hoarding is a disgusting thing that only lazy people do. She put attendees at a social conference to a test that revealed their own prejudices.

Turning the Mirror Around Towards the Social Worker

Heather Matuozzo showed her audience a picture of a hoarded house on an overhead screen. When she asked her audience – many social workers – how they responded, a typical answer was they felt disgusted and wanted clean it up.

This approach, to our way of thinking steamrollers the bond many compulsive collectors have with their hoards.  We have written elsewhere about how they are emotionally connected to them, especially items relating to their personal history.

While we agree the sights and smells in a thoroughly hoarded house may shock and induce feelings of nausea, social workers should pretend not to notice in order to present themselves as unbiased persons. In this way they keep the conversation open to negotiation and compromise, and eventually, hopefully a tidier home.

“The general public, I think, have developed their own opinions and ideas about hoarding, and practitioners are not exempt because they’re also human,” Heather Matuozzo explains. “But it’s really so important to focus on the people you can help, and not get bogged down by the more difficult cases.”

Towards More Open, Caring Support for Compulsive Hoarders

Heather Matuozzo spoke out for asking questions patiently, in order to understand and empathise with an emerging hoarder. If I were in control of the world I would have support groups in every community, she said. That’s because they are inexpensive and group work is wonderful, she explained.

This is food for thought for each of us involved in one or other way with a person with hoarding difficulties. Our watchword should be one size still does not fit all. We must understand each individual’s thinking, and sensitively help them develop a plan that works in their world.

Filed Under: Compulsive Hoarding Tagged With: Caring Support for Compulsive Hoarders, Heather Matuozzo explains, hoarded house clearance, https://www.averyassociates.co.uk/compulsive-hoarding.php, support group Clouds End

Our House Clearance Services

We provide a full house clearance and property management solution:

  • We clear hoarded houses, regardless how big or how cluttered
  • We clear all types and sizes of property, irrespective of location, or access is restricted or where parking is difficult or not available.
  • We can help avoid water damage by draining the central heating system.
  • We can secure the property and change the locks.
  • We can reinstate the gardens and maintain them whilst the property is empty.
  • We can provide 24 hour security to eliminate the risk of squatting or unlawful occupation.

As well normal house clearances we specialise in clutter clearance and we can clear a hoarded house which may contain years of accumulated possessions, or which have abnormal amounts of general household items, sometimes as a result of compulsive hoarding syndrome.

Equally we can help to clear a property where the occupants were previously unwell and unable to care for themselves or their property which sometimes results in insanitary, dangerous or just plain unpleasant conditions.

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Mar 4, 2021
by Ian Corben on Avery Associates
Probate Valuation & House Clearance

A one stop shop from beginning to end for myself as a first time executor.From our first call I was confident Jeff not only understood the issues with... Read More

Thank you Ian and it was a pleasure to assist you, we know how hard this process can be trying to find different service providers can be a nightmare so we feel very happy to ease the burden by providing all the services you require from one port of call.RegardsJeffrey Avery

Mar 4, 2021
by Sarah Lennie on Avery Associates
House Clearance After Probate

I just wanted to give my feedback I have recently moved my mother from her house and had the difficult task of clearing what was left in her... Read More

Feb 1, 2021
by Sally Thompson on Avery Associates
Sensitive House Clearance

You have done an excellent job, given that you had very little time. Brenda and I do appreciate how much you have done and feel it is really kind of you... Read More

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