Article: Tell your parent that you’re worried about them. Point out any health hazards in their house. If you are living in the home, explain how their hoarding affects you.  For instance, you could say, “Dad, I’m concerned about your quality of life here. It’s hard to get from one room to another, and all these papers are a fire hazard.” If their hoarding affects you, say so. You might say, "I'm too embarrassed to invite friends over and I get picked on at school because of how our yard looks." Or, "I'm worried social services will come and take me and my sister away if this doesn't get better." Hoarding is a serious mental health issue, and what you may see as garbage might be something your parent regards as valuable or sentimental. Don’t say anything like, “It’s really gotten awful in here,” or, “How can you live in this place?” Remember that your parent sees their clutter differently than you do, and if you’re critical or harsh about it, they may not listen to anything else you have to say.  Use a neutral word like “stuff” or “things” for your parent’s possessions, not “junk.” If you're living there, stick to the facts about how it affects you rather than dwelling about it being "gross" or "inappropriate." Tell your parent you want to help them clean up their place. Ask them what they’re having trouble with and how you could help them best. If you live in the home, you may have already spotted places where clutter is out of control. Offer to start there.  If you live outside your parent's home, say something like, “I’d like to help you make more of your living space usable again. How would you like me to start?” If you live there, you might say, "I'd love to be able to have a barbecue. How about we start clearing out the yard so friends and family can come over? I'm happy to help." Your parent might deny they have a problem or reject your offer to help. If they aren’t in immediate danger, there’s not much you can do. Let them know that your offer still stands if and when they decide to make a change.  If you don’t feel comfortable visiting your parent at their house, set a boundary that you’ll only visit in a neutral place, like a park or restaurant. If you are concerned about safety because of your parent’s hoarding, then you may want to encourage them to seek professional help to make the environment safe again.

What is a summary?
Express your concern. Avoid being judgmental. Offer to help. Accept that your parent may not be willing to change.