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How and when to intervene in cases of severe domestic squalor

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2009

John Snowdon  and
Graeme Halliday
John Snowdon*
Affiliation:
Discipline of Psychological Medicine, University of Sydney, Concord Hospital, Sydney, Australia
Graeme Halliday
Affiliation:
Sydney South West Area Health Service, Concord Hospital, Sydney, Australia
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Professor John Snowdon, Discipline of Psychological Medicine, University of Sydney, Concord Hospital, N.S.W. 2139, Australia. Phone: +61-2-97675000; Fax: +61-2-97678951. Email: jsnowdon@mail.usyd.edu.au.
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Abstract

Background: Little has been published concerning how best to intervene in cases of severe domestic squalor.

Methods: Background literature and reports on how best to intervene in cases of severe domestic squalor were reviewed.

Results: Reports by groups in London (Ontario), and Sydney (Australia) have provided recommendations for development of coordinated services to intervene in cases of squalor. Guidelines have been issued. Treatments for compulsive hoarding may contribute to improvement in cases where squalor is attributable to restricted access due to clutter.

Conclusions: Effective interventions in cases of severe domestic squalor are commonly expensive and require good inter-agency collaboration. Budgetary support must be available to enable appropriate services to take on cases and provide case management.

Keywords

uncleanlinessDiogenes syndromeliving conditionsself-neglecthoardingguidelinescommunity services
Type
Review Article
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 21 , Issue 6 , December 2009 , pp. 996 - 1002
Copyright
Copyright © International Psychogeriatric Association 2009

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