Sunset Haven addresses bedbugs

By Miriam Ostermann, Associate Editor

Shortly after a single bedbug was found at Sunset Haven, Wheatland Housing’s independent living facility, management, residents and JAPCO Pest Control Services met the situation head on to stop the insect from spreading.
According to management at Sunset Haven, the unit where the bedbug was noticed became known at the end of January. Since then, JAPCO Pest Control Services has held two meetings with the 31 residents living in the facility. The company also set up bedbug interceptors – a device used for bedbug monitoring – with four such devices in each of the 32 units. Residents were also told to dry their clothes in heat higher than 120 degrees Fahrenheit to kill any stage of a possible insect, and place them in a plastic bag for roughly seven days.
While the president of the company, John Patton, said his company only sprayed the one unit with pesticide, management noted the units above, below and on either side have also been treated.
JAPCO Pest Control Services’ findings showed the accepted industry standard of a low level of activity at the facility, or between one and 10 bedbugs. According to Patton, bedbugs are hard to track as they can find their way into a home through myriad ways, including coming back with people who have been travelling, people visiting, from riding in a taxi or a bus, or getting picked up in libraries and movie theatres.
“Unfortunately, due to the insect and where it can hide, there is a lot of preparation to ensure that all critical areas are covered,” said Patton. “Monitoring is ongoing, we’ve inspected the entire building twice and we’ve found a very low level, one or two insects, in one unit. They’re everywhere, they’re a part of our fabric. You don’t have to travel anymore. The reservoirs of bedbugs are here in Canada.
“I know Alberta Seniors and Housing is really concerned about the landlord tenant relationship where they’re going to ensure that there are no insects in their suites and are doing everything they can,” he added. “Sometimes the residents are also concerned and are a part of the process of ensuring that it (suite) never becomes infested.”
Patton said 70 per cent of the aging population do not register a bedbug bite – a percentage he said is reversed for the younger generation.
“In senior places, they’re older, they may not register the bites, they like it warmer, their eyesight isn’t as good they may not even understand what’s going on. Some of the residents probably wouldn’t report them even if they had them because they would’ve been embarrassed,” said Patton.
“That’s true in all senior facilities. They think someone will think ‘I’m dirty.’ So that’s why we place these climb up interceptors in every unit and common areas. We’ve had everyone go back to living normally.”
Alberta Health Services (AHS) did not receive a complaint or referral about bedbugs at Sunset Haven, but stated it is AHS’s duty to protect the health of all Albertans, which includes supporting landlords, managers, operators of housing and other facilities in keeping the facilities free of vermin and pests – including bedbugs. When a complaint is received, AHS investigates any vermin, pest or bedbug complaint through inspections, discussions with operators, landlords, managers and with complainants. Anyone with bedbug concerns in the Calgary area can contact AHS Environment Public Health at 403-934-2288.