Sort your life out

I think some have legitimate reasons, but some it is sheer laziness, there was a Scottish family last week, yes the dad had a dementia diagnosis, the mum was run ragged and there were ADULT kids living there, who to be honest should be pulling their weight maintaining the home to help their mum, no excuses! It also makes me wonder when they say they are too embarrassed to have friends over YET go on national TV and display the state of their home? I have been in a wheelchair for 5 yrs, two knee replacements, fibromyalgia, CFS, and my home is always clean and tidy, and no I do not have a cleaner, I just do one chore, then rest for 30 mins, another chore, then rest, it can be done!

Desperate measures sadly 😥

I hadn’t thought about it being staged and it’s good to read people’s first hand knowledge that it isn’t. It’s a good programme no judgement just pots of help and understanding

There are different kinds of hoarders, and this programme seems to deal with people you could describe as shopaholics, buying for comfort, rather than people who find it hard to throw away anything at all, even rubbish like old bus tickets and newspapers.
I find it rather uplifting and always hope the people can keep things that way

Awful programme,never watch it

I watched this programme and of course I was shocked at the amount of stuff she had.
But it also made me angry.
She needed the space for a lodger in order to maintain the mortgage. But I just couldn’t justify the amount of stuff she had.
I mean. Who needs four baby car seats. I couldn’t believe how the woman didn’t know she had tons of the same items over and over. It’s obvious why she was skint. Bad money management and hoarding.
Lets hope she doesn’t eventually repeat the pattern.

Who needs four baby car seats. I couldn’t believe how the woman didn’t know she had tons of the same items over and over.

GrannyGravy posted above that she had been a foster carer?
Perhaps that is why. Also that The lady whose house it was had lost her husband, she and her daughter were grieving and life had just got too much.
There were a lot of toys as they had been foster carers. Holding on to their loved one’s possessions, holding on to his memory.

Your post lacks empathy and is very judgemental.

Id never judge anyone by the way their home is. I know of someone whose house looks like a hoarder lives there but come about through loneliness. His main contact with the outside world are delivery people which explains the excessive online shopping just so he can have brief doorstep chats. He won't accept any help so caught up s in a vicious circle with his house becoming ever fuller with things he admits he doesn't need. It's very sad.

Stacey and the team seem really kind. They have a perfect balance of 'get stuck in' and compassion with what must be very difficult circumstances.
Some of the situations/back stories are heart rending ,I love how Stacey gently helps the families move forward and find hope for their future.
It's about so very much more than just 'clutter'.

I thought it was a very emotional show this week. The poor woman lost her husband about 2 months after his diagnosis and I think her mother had died a few months before. All their hopes and dreams of continuing to foster children and start an art therapy group just went out of the window. Also, her daughter had a chromosonal condition and was about to start senior school. No wonder she couldn't face tidying up and parting with sentimental items. It was so heartening to see her two friends supporting her throughout.

In the previous show, the family said they were having problems tidying up because the father got confused if they moved things, so they obviously needed outside help to get organised without him becoming distressed.

As keepcalmandcavachon says, it's much more than just clutter and is different to hoarding. It's so lovely to see how much the families appreciate the help they've been given.

Another brilliant episode last night, a couple who wanted to adopt another child - their first was a 5 yr old girl - but couldn't start the process until the house was sorted. The little girl was now having friends round to play with 'Come and see my bedroom' as soon as they walked in

I watched it last night. I think they were the sweetest family I’ve ever seen on this sort of programme. I am worried about Big Craig’s weight though, he is unhealthily overweight. Such a big bear of a man and soft as a marshmallow. And what a dear little girl. I just loved them.

MayBee70

I watched it last night. I think they were the sweetest family I’ve ever seen on this sort of programme. I am worried about Big Craig’s weight though, he is unhealthily overweight. Such a big bear of a man and soft as a marshmallow. And what a dear little girl. I just loved them.

Agree totally, Maybe70, with everything you say. I cried …

I do think it is staged to some extent. I would expect an enormous amount of clutter that has accumulated over years to not be as clean and shiny as it appears to be. I also think that if you can live in such chaos that it won't take too long for it to build again.

I agree Nuttynanna. I was curious about this programme which I had never watched before. No wonder these two men have 5 jobs between them (they told us). Who owns 175 pairs of shoes and 72 black tee shirts? Profligate madness or mental health issues. Nothing to do with building a safe haven for that little girl. Serious hoarding tendency which I suspect will just build up again because whatever ‘issues’ he has haven’t been addressed. I found the programme disconcerting on many levels.