The nursing home has not made this information public. I only know from workers there telling me when I asked why 3 rooms were in isolation. So I really shouldn't even know this. But I am scared to say anything as I don't want retaliation against my Mom. I think they should have to warn visitors as I don't want to take the bedbugs back to my house. They haven't called a professional, their maintenance man is spraying something in the 3 rooms. I don't know what to do to keep the bedbugs out of my Mom's room. And if they do get into her room, then what? Would appreciate any advice. Thank you.
But just as schools haven't a hope of stopping a nit outbreak if they don't deal with it en masse by informing all parents, it seems foolish of this NH to try to keep spreading bedbugs a secret. And more generally, I would be uncomfortable with any NH culture that made you feel that simply raising an issue might visit 'retaliation' on your mother. Time for a candid conversation with them, isn't it?
The simple word "bed bug" incites hysteria. They tend to live in clutter like roaches and love the seams in mattresses and piles of clothing and bedding. In truth, even though they take a blood meal at night, they have never been proven to transmit any disease. They are considered a nuisance insect and NOT a public health threat like mosquitoes and cockroaches.
I would study bed bugs on the internet. The most effective way to get rid of them is to "super heat" a room. It has been reported that some are resistant to insecticide. A person who has been bitten by bed bugs will have red marks, like mosquito bites. You may also see small blood spots on the sheets.
So, check out your Mom, look at the seams of the mattress under the bedding, look for specks there. You are within your rights to discuss this with the NH administrator. Unfortunately, bed bugs are a national epidemic. Keep us posted with this interesting topic. Tell us how it goes.
Aggressive steps would be having bedbug dogs come in to identify infestations and a professional exterminator to resolve this serious problem.