My 88 y/o mom is declining mentally. She has bed bugs and I am trying everything to keep it from becoming an infestation. Is there help?

Did you call an exterminator?
If you do not manage this as soon as you can, they will increase and be more of a problem. You don't want them all over the house.

Is 'she' in the bed with the bugs? Move her out of there ASAP !

Get her some medication. Contact her medical provider ASAP, too !

Gena / Touch Matters

DannyRifkin710: Perhaps the bigger issue is that your mother, Janet no doubt requires managed care facility living. Due to dementia, her brain no longer possesses the capacity for logical thought processes, e.g. "She refuses to accept the bugs are there."

This is a full time job. One that I don’t think you will be able to handle yourself. The only thing that is going to work for you is hire a professional. I know they can be expensive but find one with a guarantee as they can keep coming back as an egg can hatch later. I suggest you pay the money as it will save you your mental health.

brought home from moms memory care facility, we had a professional bug sprayer come in, I packed all clothing and objects in tightly closed bags and put in the center of the room on top of the table. Washed everything in hot water and dryer then lived out of bags for 6 months.He then came back two weeks later and sprayed again. I did use the powder as well on electrical outlets, around the molding. It’s now four years later and have never had a problem since. What a nightmare it was!

It’s already an infestation. I’ve never known anyone to completely get rid of bedbugs without using a professional pest control company.

First...
I am a firm believer that a person with dementia should not be living alone.

The easiest way to resolve the current problem is to have someone take mom out for lunch or shopping. Someone stay at the house and have an exterminator come in and take care of the bedbugs.

With dementia getting her to understand something is going to be difficult.

I do hope you are legally in a position that you can make decisions for her. If not if she is unable to appoint a POA (an elder Care Attorney will determine this after talking to her.) you may have to seek Guardianship.

When you Buy the Diatamaceous earth Make sure it is food grade and Not Pool grade there is a big difference .

My Building got a Infestation and everyone had to throw things out and most People Moved out - it was a shame . I was severely allergic to the Poisonous spray and went to the doctors - they tell you " To throw everything Out . " I was also allergic to the bed bugs Bites and had red bumps . I left everything behind . Then I went to the ER and they said the same thing " get rid of everything . " You can try Diatomaceous Earth which is a white Powder you sprinkle that cuts into their Bodies and dries them Out But It Is Going to take a lot of work and Your mother should stay some where else for a week or 2 till you get rid of them . They suck your Blood and come out at Night . Its pretty gross .

How to kill bed bugs using diatomaceous earth:

dhttps://greenharvest.com.au/DownLoads/HowToUseDEOnBedBugs.pdf

Diatomaceous earth is a type of powder made from the sediment of fossilized algae found in bodies of water. Because the cells of these algae were high in a compound called silica, the dried sediment produced from these fossils are also very high in silica. These deposits are found all over the world.

You can buy it at hardware stores and online.

Welcome to the Forum, Danny.
At 88 and with dementia, as your profile tells us, you are dealing with what is the new normal for your life.
Fighting bedbugs, with or without the help of pest control folks is DAUNTING in the extreme. If you go up to the blue timeline at the top of AC Forum you will see, on the far right, next to your circular avatar a magnifying glass. That's the search engine for the site. Type in bedbugs there and you will find a lot of good advice. RealyReal suggests diatomaceous earth, which is harmless to humans and pets, but does get the bugs. Problems occur with older homes, loose flooring or floorboards along walls, which allow hidden eggs and reinfestations. Having to treat EVERYTHING over and over isn't unusual and with mixed results whether with a service or alone. There is a ton of information online and on youtube as well. My kids here in the city went through this when the hubby brought them home from a trip away, and my neighbors next door when they rented their place for Airbnb. It is very daunting.

Given that you have an uncooperative senior with dementia, and if you have the POA to act for her, you may need to consider respite care. However, they need to be aware going in that she is dealing with an infestation, as she is going to have to come in with careful monitoring. Then you can address the issue.

This is a terrible situation, and must feel very hopeless. I can't do much but wish you luck and hope others have great suggestions for you.