These collections gave Phil a lot of pleasure until he started to feel overwhelmed by the volume of items. After breaking his leg trying to manoeuvre round the boxes in his wheelchair, he knew it was time to accept help.
Phil is sharing his story to try and help others who find it hard to let go of belongings.
Now in his 50s, Phil has been supported by Shaftesbury for most of his life. He was educated at Shaftesbury Nash College and since 1994, has lived at Shaftesbury Brookside House in Edgware.
We know from his LifeSum that Phil enjoys socialising and the feeling of belonging: “Living at Brookside House feels like family to me. Having so many people in one building, you get to know them and understand them. There’s always someone to go to with a problem and talk. It puts everything into perspective and makes you feel wanted.”
When his collections started to take up too much floor space, staff expressed their concerns about Phil’s safety. Despite their repeated offers of help, he found it difficult to let go of anything and didn’t know where to start with decluttering.
Fast forward a couple of years and Phil’s home has been completely transformed. The turning point came after his accident forced him to address the hoarding.
He and support worker Meghna have worked together to sort through all the collections, giving some away to charity and setting aside more valuable items to be sold at auction.
Such is the level of trust built between them, Phil was finally able to accept help and take action at his own pace.
“I trust Meghna. We go out, do shopping, talk about things. It just works,” he says.
The pair were able to have honest and frank conversations about what needed to happen. Phil was given the support he needed to systematically go through all the items, getting rid of as much as he felt comfortable with.
Manager Shukri says: “Meghna and other staff members have supported Phil through a careful, person-centred approach, helping him declutter and transform his flat into a welcoming, safe, and personalised space.”
The effort has really paid off and Phil’s confidence has grown immensely. “He now proudly hosts guests, invites friends and enjoys dinner with his girlfriend in a home that reflects his personality,” says Shukri.
With more space available, Phil has been able to buy new furniture and replace the carpet. Staff have installed shelves to showcase some of his smaller collections, respecting his interests and pride in his possessions.
As a member of our Changes for the Future Forum, Phil was comfortable opening up about his hoarding to incentivise others to accept help: “What I want is to make sure no-one else suffers with this problem.
“Having my flat decluttered has taken a lot of pressure off both myself and the staff. I feel really happy it’s all sorted and I’ve still got some of my collections. Meghna has been very understanding and knowledgeable. She is always happy which helps. You’d love her!”
Managing his own medication has been another area of growth for Phil. He previously required significant support but now takes it independently after staff lowered his medication cabinet, explained the purpose of each item, and set an alarm as a reminder. Phil has been managing this flawlessly since the beginning of the year.
He’s also embraced new responsibilities, including volunteering as key worker for Brook the resident cat!
The next project is replacing Phil’s wheelchair as it turns out Meghna is very good at negotiating and has managed to reduce the quoted price of £5,000 down to £3,000.
“She knows how to get a bargain. I really like that about her,” Phil says proudly.
Curious as ever, Phil is also exploring new activities including Tai Chi for upper body strength. He’s embarked on training courses via Shaftesbury’s Learning Academy and is sharing his feedback to encourage others to sign up.
He feels much lighter – “as if a weight has been lifted from my shoulders” and is full of praise for all the staff who have helped him through the process.
“I cannot express enough thanks to them,” he says.