Hoarding by definition is the persistent difficulty
discarding or parting with possessions, regardless of their actual value.
Hoarding usually has deleterious effects including emotional, physical, social,
and financial. In many areas, even legal. This affects not only the hoarder but
family members can be held legally responsible.
For
those who hoard, the quantity of their collected items sets them apart from
other people. The main difference between a hoarder and a collector as a hoarder
has so much stuff that the rooms they’re putting it into have lost their
functionality completely.
Hoarders frequently have items on top of items without
any type of organization. The objects may not even be useable, but they have
value to the owner. Finding space to pack the items can be difficult
too.
Commonly hoarded items may be:
·
newspapers
·
magazines
·
paper and plastic
bags
·
cardboard
boxes
·
photographs
·
household
supplies
·
food
· clothing
Hoarding creates a number of health and safety issues for
the occupants. There are trip and fall hazards, fire hazards, and possibly the
presence of rodents and reptiles. Additionally, mold and structural problems
could become future issues as the ability to identify such problems properly
since so much is hidden and buried.
For
restoration contractors, hoarding claims can be very tricky. Unknown
environmental elements such as biohazards and animal waste, human waste, mold
and trash can make the restoration more difficult.
For
the technicians performing the actual clean up it's very hard to breathe in
these types of homes, there is poor air quality for the workers as well as the
homeowners after a fire or flood.
Getting things cleaned up
Because hoarding is more than a small problem for most,
when working with hoarders, it is best to follow these
recommendations:
·
Be respectful and show
concern for the person's safety.
·
Match the language to
the person. If the person calls items her collections or things, use similar
terminology. Avoid referring to items as junk, trash or hoarding.
·
Try to focus on the
safety issues such as fires, fall hazards and avalanche conditions.
·
Show empathy and let
them know you understand your presence may be upsetting, but that some kind of
change is necessary.
We can help
For
help with hoarding cleanup, or to treat other issues that arise from hoarding
(mold or fire and water damage), contact the experts at ServiceMaster of
Prescott... The clean you expect, the service you deserve.
ServiceMaster of Prescott serves not only the Prescott
area, but the entire Verde Valley for all your mold removal, fire/smoke/water
restoration needs. Contact us today!
