How one woman reclaimed her space and peace of mind by decluttering

Earlier this year, Penny Moore began a process to take back control of her life — one tote box at a time.
A cancer survivor coping with mobility and mental health challenges, Moore, 61, had become overwhelmed trying to sort through and organize 20 years’ worth of possessions that had, until recently, been in storage.
Boxes and clutter blocked the entryways and narrow hallways of her two-bedroom co-op apartment in London, Ont., and she was unable to get around using her walker.
When her social worker referred her to VHA Home HealthCare (VHA), a non-profit organization that offers cleaning and decluttering services, Moore saw a light at the end of the tunnel.
VHA programs include Restored Home: Extreme Cleaning and Safer Spaces: Hoarding Support — available to clients in London, Toronto and Durham Region who are unable to take care of their living spaces, due to barriers such as mental health challenges, disabilities, substance use issues and limited financial resources.
After an intake and assessment, Moore received the initial extreme cleaning service, followed by regular visits from VHA support worker Kyra Kielesinski, who worked with Moore to sort through the clutter, while providing coaching and emotional support.  
“They work with me, not against me,” said Moore, a former photography business owner. “It makes it easier to move forward.”
Making clients part of the decluttering process is essential to VHA’s approach.
“Our program is designed to be client-centred and collaborative,” said program supervisor Melissa Davis. “Clients are the primary decision-makers. This ensures stability and gradual progress, builds trust and positive relationships, and keeps everyone accountable.”
Kielesinski agreed. “It’s really harmful when you start throwing things out and not letting a client be part of the process,” she said. “I’m letting Penny run the session so she’s in control of what stays and what goes.”
Each client is unique. For those who require more support, a mental health case worker, such as Kielesinski, is assigned to assist them with problem-solving skills and help them think about their belongings differently so they can prepare to part with them.
With an aging population, Davis expects the demand for clean and decluttering services to grow but points out it’s not only the elderly who need help.
“Historically, those most in need of our support have been older adults,” she said. “However, we are also seeing more cases of hoarding disorder and unmanageable excessive clutter with younger people as well.”
According to Anxiety Canada, hoarding disorder occurs in two to six per cent of children and adults during their lifetime, with the average age of onset in late childhood and early adolescence. About half develop the disorder as a result of chronic or acute stress or a traumatic life event.
“When clients are not able to use their rooms for their intended use, individuals can become isolated and withdrawn from society,” said Davis, “They can experience loneliness, financial strains, family breakdown, burnout, shame, guilt and fear of being discovered which can exacerbate existing mental health conditions.”
Moore said tenants who suffer from the disorder are also at risk of eviction.
“A lot of people are homeless because they don’t get help to do cleaning and decluttering and the landlord says, ‘you’re out,’” she said.
These days, Moore is enjoying the reclaimed space she shares with her beloved service dog, Angel. She’s motivated to complete daily tasks in the home and pursue her love of gardening, painting and volunteering in the community.
“I have up days and down days, but now I can talk to someone,” she said. “VHA treats me like a person, they listen to me.”  
Learn more about VHA Home HealthCare’s Restored Home: Extreme Cleaning program.