Should bed bugs in a nursing home be reported?

by Susan
(Michigan)

A friend in a nursing home has had bed bugs 3 times in one year. Her room is sparsely furnished. They moved her to a new room but brought clothing from her old room, and there's a big gap under her old room's door. It seems the bugs just run under the door during treatment. Should this be reported to the health department?

Editor Response

Hi Susan,

Yes, you can report it. In Michigan, nursing homes are licensed and inspected by the state, and you can file a complaint with the state licensing agency, the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (complaint hotline 800-882-6006), or contact the Michigan Long Term Care Ombudsman Program (866-485-9393), which advocates for residents for free. Repeated infestations suggest the treatment isn't reaching every hiding spot. Good practice is to inspect and treat the rooms next to, across from, above and below an infested room, launder clothing in a hot dryer before moving it, and seal gaps under doors and around baseboards. You can also ask the facility in writing what its bed bug plan is.