TORONTO - ServiceMaster of Canada, a leader in residential and commercial services, is expanding its service offerings to include hoarding and extreme cleanup. The company is hosting industry training seminars for individuals who work with people who hoard.
The expansion and seminars are part of an ongoing effort by ServiceMaster Restore to raise awareness of the disease, which was recently added to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders used by mental health professionals to diagnosis mental illness.
These efforts include a partnership that began in 2014 with hoarding expert and U.S. television celebrity Matt Paxton whose specialized training program teaches professionals how to understand and properly work with people who hoard.
"Dealing with hoarding requires sensitivity and specialized training," said Stephan Roy, national director, ServiceMaster Restore. "For more than 60 years, we've made it our job to help people return to healthy living environments. Hoarding is a natural extension of our services, given our unique expertise in professional cleaning and disaster restoration services."
Paxton, one of the top extreme cleaning experts in the United States, is serving as the in-house hoarding cleanup expert for ServiceMaster Restore by providing specialized hands-on training to participating franchisees across the country. Paxton is the founder of Clutter Cleaner, author of The Secret Lives of Hoarders and featured expert on the television show "Hoarders." He's been cleaning homes affected by hoarding for more than 10 years.
ServiceMaster Restore also has relationships with local mental health professionals across the country to help connect those who suffer from a hoarding disorder with professional resources. The company will also host a seminar for local therapists, organizers, care managers, senior move managers, and other professionals who work or care for hoarders and their families.
Roy explains that the company has a comprehensive approach to how each of its local franchisees handles restoration and extreme cleanup jobs. ServiceMaster Restore's approach focuses on the individual, seeking first to understand the emotional impact of hoarding, then providing support throughout the cleanup process.
"Most people who hoard have experienced a traumatic event in their life, causing them to hold onto things," said Roy. "There are different levels of complexity and they come from all walks of life. If you suspect that someone may suffer from a hoarding disorder or could benefit from special assistance, call the professionals at ServiceMaster Restore. We have the expertise to help."
About ServiceMaster Restore of Canada
ServiceMaster Restore is a national leader in full-service restoration providing 24/7/365 emergency services and repair resulting from damage caused by water, fire or smoke. ServiceMaster Restore has been servicing customers in Canada since 1953 and has operations experience on countless catastrophes including the Alberta flood and the current wildfires in Fort McMurray. ServiceMaster Restore is a business unit of the Memphis-based ServiceMaster Global Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SERV), a leading provider of essential residential and commercial services. More information can be found at www.servicemasterrestore.ca.
About ServiceMaster
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