The senior citizens’ pavilion in the Sainte-Marthe-du-Cap sector has received a visit from a team of home nurses to examine the residents, while the intermediate station has been making headlines for the past few days.

The owner, Jean-Claude Bujold, confirms that an infestation first appeared a year and a half ago. Exterminators were quickly commissioned to eliminate the insects, he said. Since then they have been coming back every month for preventative treatments. The owner confirms that two bedbugs were sighted again last week and bites were observed on one resident. Jean-Claude Bujold claims to have done everything that needed to be done.

” We want to solve the problem, that’s for sure. From the very beginning we apply all the recommendations given to us, we follow them. […] Even wash everyone’s clothes [on l’a fait] twice. »

A call to vigilance

The problem does not only affect the senior pavilion. According to exterminators contacted by Radio-Canada, bed bug infestations have been on the rise in the region for the past year or two. In their opinion, senior residences are favorable and difficult environments. The spokesman for Mauricie Private Residences for Seniors, Richard Maziade, confirms that the case of the Sainte-Marthe-du-Cap seniors’ pavilion is not an isolated case and vigilance is required.

With the increasing loss of people’s autonomy and home care, there is a higher turnover. When you have a changing customer base, it’s harder to manage. These are not messy places, but a bug that multiplies quickly.

It invites us to be vigilant. I think when people bring their clothes, their furniture, they have to be inspected. You have to ask whether there are any in the other place.

A main problem

For his part, the President of the Council for the Protection of the Sick, Paul Brunet, reiterated that the problem must be taken very seriously. For him it is a big problem and it is necessary to use shock treatments.

I know the problem, but this is the first time it has been discussed so openly. This is a very serious problem, serious especially for the comfort and safety of users. We can hope that the authorities work a little more seriously.

The Mauricie-et-du-Centre-du-Québec Integrated University Health and Social Services Center (CIUSSS MCQ) mentions this via email Home care teams have examined the integrity of the skin of all residents of the Sainte-Marthe-du-Cap seniors’ pavilion, as well as the furniture, and there has been no confirmation that there are bugs in the current period of residence.

He adds that he was informed of an infestation 18 months ago, the means have been taken to stop the problem and a follow-up visit is being held every month. THE CIUSSS MCQ ensures he continues to monitor the situation closely.

With information from Amélie Desmarais