what would you do dealing with clutter
WWYD A resident continually brings more items into their room. Despite regular cleaning by domestic staff, the room is becoming increasingly cluttered. Surfaces are covered, there is very little clear floor space, and staff are concerned about fire safety, infection control, falls, and access in an emergency.
The resident insists,
“There’s nothing wrong with my room. Please stop trying to tidy it.”
Whenever staff suggest reducing the clutter, the resident becomes upset and accuses them of taking away their belongings.
Some colleagues say,
“They have capacity, so it’s their choice.”
Others ask,
“But do they fully understand and weigh up the risks? Should we be assessing their capacity to make this specific decision?”
How do we balance dignity, autonomy and safety when a person’s home also has to be a safe place to live and work?
