Some of the same health concerns that affect children at school can impact older adults in nursing homes or similar assisted living facilities. Just like lice can spread rapidly in an elementary school, an infestation could also pass quickly from resident to resident in a nursing home facility.
Lice aren’t the only insects that your loved one could wind up exposed to in an assisted living facility. Scabies and bed bugs can also quickly spread in a facility where proper cleanliness practices are not a priority.
Although an occasional infestation is inevitable in a facility with a high population density, repeated infestations and untreated outbreaks are worrying signs of possible neglect.
There are ways to stop the spread of these insects
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have published information about how to curtail the spread of dangerous infestations, such as scabies. There are best practices that help reduce the spread of infestations in residential facilities and help professionals get rid of the existing pests.
Pests that attack the human body and treat people like hosts can be particularly dangerous for those who are medically vulnerable, like older adults. Lice, scabies or bed bugs could cause injuries that have medical issues on their own or that lead to secondary infections. They can also drastically reduce someone’s quality of life.
If you notice signs of lice or a similar infestation when you visit a loved one, you should make a note of it and make sure that staff members are aware. Ask how they intend to treat your loved one and then follow up frequently.
Realizing that unchecked infestations are a major concern can help me be a better advocate for a loved one in a nursing home.