If your holidays included time spent with a loved one in a nursing home, you likely didn’t “see” any bed bugs. However, you may well have seen signs of them without realizing it.
Unfortunately, along with the many other potential health and safety risks to those who are in nursing homes – particularly elderly people who are largely bedridden – bed bugs are not uncommon. A bed bug infestation and “attack” can be especially dangerous to those who are already frail or in poor health.
Because nursing home residents are generally in close quarters, an infestation in one room – or one bed – can easily spread. They can hitch a ride on a nurse or other caregiver, sheets, towels and any other number of surfaces. Bed bugs are tiny creatures, but they move fast and reproduce fast. They typically hide during the day, so no matter how closely you look at a loved one’s bedding, you may not see them.
Potential symptoms of bed bug bites
Often, even a person who doesn’t suffer from any cognitive impairment doesn’t notice that they’ve been bitten by bed bugs. However, these bites can lead to blistering and scarring. If someone is allergic to them, they can develop a serious – and potentially life-threatening – reaction like going into anaphylactic shock. Bites, if not recognized or treated, can lead to infections – particularly in people whose systems aren’t strong enough to fight them off.
It’s always a good idea to ask those in charge of a loved one’s nursing home what steps they take to prevent bed bug infestations and what they do when they find them. If you notice unexplained bites, sores or other unexplained issues with your loved one that you believe or know were the result of bed bugs, contact Bed Bug Law to discuss your options.