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32 | Page 2.
Facility staff are not properly addressing insect infestation in facility.
On the allegation that ‘Facility staff are not properly addressing insect infestation in facility’; it is the concern of the complainant that the facility has bedbugs, and that there has been a repeated problem with bed bugs at the facility. To investigate the allegation, the LPA conducted residents’ interviews, inspected rooms, and requested records of the facility’s ongoing fumigation services, and maintenance records. The inspection of the rooms, and beds revealed that nine out of nine rooms were free of bug infestations; and three out of nine mattresses were covered with a mattress liner. Residents’ interviews revealed that eight out of nine residents stated that they have not had a bedbug infestation. R1 stated that they had bedbugs around mid-April 2023, got bitten around the ankles, and other parts of their body; furthermore, R1 stated that staff came around to spray the room, and to wash the linens. R1 declined to be relocated to another room for the heat treatment to take place. R1 stated, “I haven’t seen any bugs lately”.
Additional residents’ interviews revealed that staff have come around to the rooms fumigating for bugs. The interview with the ED revealed that bug infestations are dealt with two methods: If the facility experiences an active bug infestation, maintenance uses a ‘heat treatment’ in which the resident has to be relocated, and a heat machine is placed in the room to heat up the room up to 190 degrees Fahrenheit for 24 hours. After the 24 hour heat treatment, the room is allowed to cool down for half a day, before returning the resident to their room. The second method for bug problems is a follow up, and preventive measure, in which rooms are fumigated at intervals of a week and a half to ensure bug eggs are killed, to prevent infestation. Maintenance records revealed that an independent fumigation company is contracted to conduct monthly fumigation for pest, and rodent control. Records indicated that fumigation was done in January, February, March and April of 2023.
Based on the information obtained through interviews, there is evidence to support that bedbugs were seen in one room of the facility only. The facility staff appropriately addressed the insect problem, and took action to treat the room and fumigate the room in a timely manner. Therefore, the allegation that the Facility staff are not properly addressing the insect infestation is deemed Unsubstantiated at this time.
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