Unsafe Home-What to do??

caliotter3 · Sep 15, 2011

Write a description up in a communication note and submit it to your agency. Make a call to speak to your nursing supervisor to inform her about the situation, perhaps she might want to contact a social worker. That is about all you can do without overstepping boundaries. If the situation bothers you too much, consider whether or not you want to remain on the case. You have to take responsibility for your own health and well being because you can not expect the agency to do so.

ventmommy · Sep 15, 2011

That's gross. Why can't they have an exterminator? Our exterminator comes 4 times a year as prevention (we are in the south). They know all about our son's needs and did extensive research on his equipment and the chemicals they use. They bought us plastic drop cloths to cover his equipment when they come.

Maybe the mom hasn't told anyone about the awful living conditions because she is afraid of losing her kids but if a social worker is made aware, perhaps they could help her find more appropriate housing.

morte, LPN, LVN · Sep 15, 2011

I would think the mice wouldn't be too hard to eliminate, providing you can prevent entry of more....the roaches will be a problem....wouldn't this be a landlord problem?

Trauma Columnist · Sep 15, 2011

What about outside the apartment complex spraying? I live in the midwest and get field mice once in awhile - the little mice hotels (no spraying or chemicals involved) are placed in strategic places of entry, in the mouse goes, he gets crunched by the guillotine thing and I dump him into the trash the next morning.

No more mice.

Roaches are a different issue - when we lived in Korea, the roaches were huge - we did use chemicals but not in the bedrooms, just in the kitchen (after taking care with the food and food prep areas of course. We did not have ANY food or eating/drinking outside the kitchen. We also had the entryway to the apartment sprayed - outside our door.

lapoRtaN · Sep 15, 2011

Thanks for the reponses. I am so worried about offending the family. They are not filthy people by any means but the apartment is just infested. I will ask my NM for a for some type of social worker intervention. Even though it really bothers me, I think it is even more of a health hazard to my patient. Roaches have even crawled on this bed. I will relay the info to the agency because this is a new case for us anyway. I will try to use as much tact as possible. Thanks for al the advice!!

Isabelle49 · Sep 15, 2011

Try putting some vaseline on the legs of the bed if the roaches are trying to crawl up that way. They won't be able to get up. I would put some along the floor right up at the baseboards so no one will slip on it. I understand that Avon SkinSoSoft oil may also work. So sorry for the patient and family, their home is probably the best they can make it. The city may also be able to help, might try a call to the Mayor's office and see if they can give a referral.

lapoRtaN · Sep 15, 2011

Try putting some vaseline on the legs of the bed if the roaches are trying to crawl up that way. They won't be able to get up. I would put some along the floor right up at the baseboards so no one will slip on it. I understand that Avon SkinSoSoft oil may also work. So sorry for the patient and family, their home is probably the best they can make it. The city may also be able to help, might try a call to the Mayor's office and see if they can give a referral.

Thanks for the suggestion. I did send an email to the agency inquiring about a possible referral. They family is trying it's best I must admit. It is definitely not a neglect issue more of old apartment and outside factors. Hope I didn't over step my boundaries.