Severity of Loss Training: Handling a Hoarding Dilemma Insurance CE Credits: VA 3 CE units (VA credit only; will be offered in Spring 2019 for MD/DC) CE Course: VA#212889 Instructor: Jane Gandee
This course details why hoarding is important to insurance companies, adjusters and property management professionals. It is designed to help the audience understand hoarders, assist them in identifying a hoarder, and educate them on how to handle a loss properly when a hoarder is involved. It will also cover the impact on the claims process and claim cost as well as concerns that will arise when a loss of this type is encountered.
Hoarding is defined as the excessive acquisition of possessions (and failure to use or discard them), even if the items are worthless, hazardous, or unsanitary. Most commonly hoarded items are newspapers, magazines, food containers, cups, and sometimes animals. Typically the hoarding designation is assigned once this need to acquire things interferes with regular daily routines, causes a safety or fire hazard, or becomes unsanitary. There is evidence to suggest that hoarding is a manifestation of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD).
Cleaning a project like this is much more challenging than most because the individual responsible for hoarding has a mental block that won’t allow disposal of the items that they have hoarded. Ideally a family member or close friend can act as liaison between ServiceMaster and the customer, helping to make decisions about what is disposed of or salvaged. We can provide a complete solution to the problem by taking care of bulk debris removal, structural cleaning, disinfection, and cleaning all remaining content items.
