Bed bugs in a senior apartment building in San Diego
By nobugsonme on Jul 17, 2008 in bed bugs, bedbugs, california, elderly, multi-unit buildings, san diego, senior apartments, senior housing, treatment
NBC reports that there are bed bugs in a senior apartment building in San Diego:
It’s happening at the Westminster Manor, which is home to low-income seniors. Resident Rose Chapin, 76, told NBC 7/39 she first noticed the problem in June.
“I saw little black spots on my bedspread,” Chapin said.
Soon after, she noticed bloodstains, bites on her chest and legs, plus larvae found in the couch. Chapin said that about 50 of the 150 apartments in the high-rise wound up with them and are being sprayed for bedbugs.
“They’ve sprayed two times in my place already, but I still have to keep all of my clothes in bags out on the balcony for the rest of the month. And I have to do about 50 loads of laundry when that’s done, just to make sure they’re gone,” Chapin said.
Fifty out of 150 units are being treated. This is a serious infestation. I would not be surprised if other units as well as common areas (and maybe even walls / pipe areas) were also infested.
The management says they treat units when complaints are made:
“The residents spread them when they visit each other. There’s no way to prevent it, so we treat the apartment as soon as we discover a problem,” said Bill Keys, the buildings superintendent said. “At any time, we could be dealing with four or five rooms.”
Treating units like this individually, a few at a time, when 1/3 or more of the building is infested and are being treated at different times, may not be the best way to eliminate the problem.
Would coordinating treatment so that it occurs all at once not be a more efficient and promising plan?
Perhaps some of our professionals could enlighten me on that.
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parakeets | Jul 19, 2008 | Reply
Thanks for speaking up for the senior citizens affected by bedbugs.
nobugsonme | Jul 19, 2008 | Reply
Thanks parakeets.
It breaks my heart that elderly people are being treated this way.
After all, none of us would be here — and our cities and countries would be nothing — without them and all they did in their earlier lives.
Marjorie Morris | Jul 28, 2008 | Reply
I am a 74 year old senior living in public housing in BOULDER COLORADO,we have been experiencing horrible bed bug infestations,and the problem is not being resolved. In the beginning it was down played by the housing authority and many of us residents have been exposed to horrendous living conditions due to the building infestation. Trying to get a resolution in next to impossible,and I felt it had to be brought to public attention and that is why my family and I went to the newspaper.I do not know if any thing positive is going to come out of this,but I am living in utter devastation.There has to be an answer and a solotion some where.
nobugsonme | Jul 29, 2008 | Reply
Hi Marjorie,
I read of your experience here. I am sorry you are going through this and I hope you will get a resolution of your problem soon– that the Housing Authority will treat your building more aggressively.
I also hope you and your neighbors will write and call your elected officials and remind them you are voters too.
joan | Aug 25, 2008 | Reply
My daughter just moved into a college apartment near SDSU that is infested with bed bugs. The manager will not call me back and is not taking an agressive stance. She moved in on 8/15 but cannot stay there because of the problem. Any suggestions???
nobugsonme | Aug 25, 2008 | Reply
Joan,
You need tenants’ rights information for
South DakotaSan Deigo / California. Tenants organizations can help.The college’s Residence Life office should be able to help you find organizations that give advice to tenants on their rights OR be able to fill you in on local rental laws. Even though your daughter is off-campus, the Residence Life office should care about this and help you find the info you need.
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