Assisted Living Facilities and Bed Bug Prevention
Assisted Living, nursing homes, and rehabilitation centers have one common problem – bed bugs. It’s becoming an epidemic, not just across the United States but worldwide.
Bed bugs have become an epidemic.
Bed Bug Identification
Here are some of the signs your facility may have bed bugs:- Fecal matter (dark spots) on edges of mattresses.
- Actual bugs themselves; very small, color ranging from light brown to bright red or black (the red and black ones have just fed).
- Bed bug shell casting and egg casings.
- Residents complaining of an itchy, red rash.
- The smell of rotten raspberries.

Dark spots are evidence of bed bugs.

Bed Bug Bites
Areas Bed Bugs Hide
Besides the living quarters, bed bugs can be found in many of the common rooms within a facility. These rooms tend to be cramped with residents and their personal belongings. A routine check for evidence of bed bugs in the hair salon, meeting and craft rooms, and the dining area is important for these high traffic areas.
Bed bug on carpet.
Bed Bug Prevention
Bed bug prevention requires the vigilant attention of staff members to detect and report any signs of bed bugs to management. Hearts provides bed bug inspections free-of-charge. If bed bugs are discovered, we will give you various options of treatments available, information on how to prepare, and what to expect before and after a bed bug treatment.
There are various methods to treat for bed bugs including steam treatments.
Education is the First Step to Bed Bug PreventionPreventative measures include the following:
- All levels of staff should learn the basics of bed bugs so that they can detect them as soon as possible. When new residents arrive, it’s important, although a delicate situation, to inspect their belongings and ask questions regarding recent travel.
- Each shift should have a person available to report any concerns about bed bugs.
- Keeping clutter to a minimum.
- Consider covering all of the mattresses and box springs with a plastic cover that can be sealed shut to prevent such pests from getting into them (or to permanently trap any already there).
- Periodically inspect bedding and other places in each resident’s room which are typical harborage sites for bed bugs.
- Get residents on board for reporting any reoccurring bug bites and educate them on the importance of reducing clutter and keeping their area accessible for inspections.
- Have your pest management professional install bed bug monitors that can be checked on a regular basis.

Mattress and box spring covers specifically designed to keep out bed bugs helps preserve the mattress and protects it from bed bug infestations.