Bed bugs torment the elderly in Asbury Park, NJ | Bed Bug Removal

Challenge

An elderly tenant in an Asbury Park apartment complex contacted the apartment manager to report a possible bed bug infestation. The property manager then contacted Cowleys, which handles all of their pest control needs, and its bed bug team was promptly dispatched to investigate. Bed bugs are considered true emergencies because of how quickly these parasitic insects can spread and become entrenched in a home or multi-unit dwelling. We arrived soon soon after receiving the call.

Apartments and other multi-person residences like college dormitories, motels/hotels, and nursing homes are especially notorious for bed bug infestations because these bugs, just like cockroaches, quickly move from one unit to the next throughout the building. All apartment managers need to be vigilant about bed bug activity, and in those complexes where there are many elderly residents, it is critical. Often, the elderly do not have the wherewithal to notice the subtle clues in the early stages of an infestation because of diminished eyesight or physical challenges, and because of reduced sensitivities or diminished mental capacities, they may not even be aware that they are being bitten. Tenants need to be educated about pest awareness and the importance of timely reporting pest problems to management. In nursing homes and residential units housing elderly populations, staff should conduct periodic inspections of units to avoid any unnecessary delay in treatment. With bed bugs, every day counts. Even a single bed bug or two can quickly escalate into a severe infestation.

It was a good thing that we were called. Upon inspection in this Asbury apartment, I immediately discovered bed bugs. Bedbugs hide in tight crevices like furniture seams. Here, I found bed bugs stuck under seams of a pillow case (see photo). I observed bedbugs in their varied life stages, from tiny nymph (baby bed bugs) to full grown adult. Bed bugs are masters of stealth. When not feeding on their host, they hide in the smallest nooks and crannies. Nymphs are especially hard to locate since they can be as small as a poppy seed. Needless to say, bed bug inspections must be systematic and methodical. Also, all infected areas must be treated at the same time; otherwise, there will be surviving bed bugs, and the infestation will take longer to completely resolve. I also observed bed bug stains, which are a common sign of bed bug activity. Since their diet is limited to blood, their droppings appear as tiny rust-colored or black spots. Often, you’ll see signs of bed bugs — their droppings, cast skins, or eggs — before finding live bed bugs. 

Solution

For this bed bug infestation, we painstakingly inspected the entire apartment while using a HEPA vacuum to remove all live bedbugs from any area with confirmed sightings. After all of the rooms and contents had been thoroughly vacuumed, we used a commercial grade steamer to clear out all cracks and crevices of common hiding areas, focusing on bedroom and living room furniture where people sleep and rest. Mattress and box-springs encasements were installed on the beds, bed leg monitors placed where applicable, and a light liquid application was given to these areas. In the two-week followup, we will thoroughly re-inspect, and apply additional liquid applications to areas of concern. Two to three weeks later, in our final inspection, we make sure the structure is completely free of bed bugs, again applying a light chemical application to any areas of concern.