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Risk Management & Insurance Renew Systems Waste and Trauma Scene Management
Risk Management & Insurance
Renew Systems Waste and Trauma Scene
Management
The Truth About Hoarding What is hoarding?
Collections of Collections Trouble getting rid of items Mental Illness Organization difficulty
Origins of Hoarding
Dante’s Divine Comedy (1308 AD)
Charles Dickens’ Bleak House (1862)
1842 the novel, Dead Souls- Plyushkin displays all the characteristics of hoarding
Erich Fromm (20th Century) suggested that acquisition was one way for people to relate to the world around them and was core to one’s character
Recognized in 1920 as a disorder
Famous Hoarders
Ida Mayfield Wood Hoarded $1 Million in cash – Hidden in pots & pans. Inside a Cracker Jack box was a diamond necklace $10,000 in cash sealed around her waist
Alexander Kennedy Miller $1 Million of Gold Bullion $60,000 in Silver Bullion $1 Million in promissory notes, stocks and shares.
The Collyers After they passed away, authorities removed over 140
TONS of debris from their home.
Risks of Hoarding
Costs of Hoarding In a month, an average of 1500
evictions in San Francisco due to hoarding.
SF task force says hoarding ≈ $6 million per year.
Average clean up costs: $8K-16K
12,000-15,000 residents in San Francisco struggle with this condition
Why is it an Insurance Risk? Fire hazards Higher chance of injury Liability Blocked exits Poor home Maintenance:
Collapsing Attics Bursting Pipes Structural Damage
Possible Solutions? Exposure Evaluation
Professionals analyze in person to reduce risk
Program Development reviewing alternatives, we carefully weigh costs
and benefits, presenting you with clear, detailed recommendations
Communication It's important to fully understand your coverage,
what is and isn’t covered by the insured’s policy
Insurance Now The insurer decides whether and how to act.
Coverage may be cancelled depending on the severity
If the debris was there when the policy was written, the law may require the insurer to send a warning.
The hope: proper documentation exists to prove hoarding occurred after the issuance of coverage.
Points of DevelopmentCurrent Status
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) aims to change: Misdiagnosis Real impact in terms of the diagnosis & treatment. OCD vs. Hoarding Reclassification
Results in better treatment plans, aimed at asking the right questions
Bottom Line for Insurance
Everyone's insurance differs, so coverage differs.
Reclassification could mean better reimbursement.
Avoid bad claims
Prevention/Education Referrals to Mental Health Professionals
Marin Hoarding Alliance Institute on Compulsive Hoarding and Clutter NAPO: Professional organizers Children of Hoarders
Open and Honest Communication Respect Have Sympathy Encourage Teamwork Reflect ASK
RENEW SYSTEMS – WASTE AND TRUAMA MANAGEMENT
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