Why do mental health staff sometimes 'zero in' on ADL's more when ....

When someone is going to college or has a new job, why do mental-health staff tend to home in on people's ADL/housekeeping skills? Is it that I'll bring someone from college or work home, and OMG the house is not clean? It's not like some casual friend KNOWS oh well, she's in mental health housing..or is it just to make sure someone's life is 'balanced out' and they can handle the extra demands? Or is it in case someone fails at school or work?

You're not the first person to mention this issue. Is it something in their training, you think?

Kim, there's a difference between a messy house and a dirty house.
If your bathtub is black, you got a layer of dust so thick on your furniture, you cannot see the woodwork under it and your kitchen counters are so cluttered with trash, dirty dishes and ickiness-there's no available space, then you've got a dirty house and yes, that would concern me as a housekeeper- let alone a mental health person.
If there are clothes drapped over a chair, the floor has a couple of loose pieces of lint on it, the kitchen has a couple of dirty dishes on the counter top and the bath sink has got some toothpaste film in it-then it's probably just a messy and not a big deal.

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Jax2923 said:
Kim, there's a difference between a messy house and a dirty house.
If your bathtub is black, you got a layer of dust so thick on your furniture, you cannot see the woodwork under it and your kitchen counters are so cluttered with trash, dirty dishes and ickiness-there's no available space, then you've got a dirty house and yes, that would concern me as a housekeeper- let alone a mental health person.
If there are clothes drapped over a chair, the floor has a couple of loose pieces of lint on it, the kitchen has a couple of dirty dishes on the counter top and the bath sink has got some toothpaste film in it-then it's probably just a messy and not a big deal.

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">I'm a pretty clean person...what they really tend to harp about is what they call 'clutter' like magazines laying around(It's not like I have tons of magazines)or sale flyers,stuff like that...even if there's a few lying around, they tend to nag about it. They sometimes even try to get me to wear dresses and do my hair, wear dressy,'pretty' clothes(Hey I wear clean, neat clothes even if most of it's sports stuff)...I feel like they're trying to 'polish' me, I see keeping a neat house, but nagging me for what I choose to wear everyday? I have to wonder if people in these programs who dress 'Goth','Punk','urban' as their daily style(not for a job interview or formal thing)get nagged?

Hi Kim, kinda like living at home with your parents?

It is simply because it is mental health housing. They have health, safety and fire codes they have to adhere to. I used to work in a group home for children...same thing. They couldn't care less if the kitchen floor was swept, but don't let there be paper lying around (magazines!) fire hazard if the fire marshal were to come in.

While I understand them being concerned about a dirty home (as described by Jax), if they're picking on you over the clothes you choose to wear (as long as they're clean), then I'd have a problem with that, too. I know people on talk shows agree to have the makeovers on those episodes that are about makeovers, but it really annoys me when people try to change a person's style. There's nothing wrong with someone who prefers jeans over dresses, or whatever! I don't care what my friends wear, as long as they're happy. If everyone conformed to society, that would be boring.