Protecting The Elderly | Teaching Your Loved One About Bed Bugs In Nursing Homes
For several years bed bugs have been a major concern for people who travel often and stay in hotels. However, the problem has grown in such a way that bed bugs can now be found in not only hotels and homes, but also in public medical facilities such as nursing homes and hospitals. Your elderly loved one likely comes from a generation when bed bugs were not as prevalent, and therefore, it will be your responsibility to make sure they know what to look for as indicators.
Familiarize Your Loved One with What Bed Bugs Look Like
The first measure you need to take in order to keep your loved one informed about bed bugs is to make sure they know what they look like. An adult bug has a round-shaped body and small head. Full-grown bed bugs are usually about a half a centimeter long. The bugs can range in color from light brown to rusty red right after feeding. However, the juvenile bed bug will look much different. In fact, a baby can be difficult to spot because it may only be about a millimeter in size, and is often white or opaque in color if it is not full of blood.
Teach Your Loved One about Bed Bug Bites
Elderly individuals in particular may not feel a bed bug bite when it happens. Not only are bed bugs master feeders with pain-killing saliva, the elderly individual may have less of a reaction after the fact. During one incident of infestation that took place in an apartment building in Kentucky, at least 76 percent of the elderly tenants had little reaction to the bed bug bites at all. However, the bites may still be visible as small welts on the skin or red spots.
Instruct Your Family Member on Where to Look for Bed Bugs
If your family member is still mobile enough to get around their room, show them how to look for bed bugs. Diminished sight may require use of a magnifying glass or reading glasses, but show them how to check in cracks and crevices of the mattress. Be sure not to leave out that bed bugs can nest under wall décor, in the baseboards, and may even be hiding out in their clothing that is tucked away in the drawers or closet.
Bed bugs undetected in a nursing home can easily lead to a massive infestation that affects not only the residents, but the staff, and the patient's visitors as well. By educating your elderly loved one about bed bugs, you will be taking steps toward preventing a major pest control problem. For more information, contact a business such as Best Control Pest Control Ltd.