Families say bed bugs have taken over a senior housing complex in Harper Woods, Michigan: bugs were found on beds, couches and in bathrooms, and elderly residents are being bitten in their sleep at night. The operator confirmed two units were treated on September 4, with a follow-up on September 18, and a building-wide inspection is planned — but families say that is not enough, and ask why frail seniors should have to live like this.
What happened: families say the whole building is infested
- The complex is Park Place in Harper Woods, run by National Church Residences, and most residents are elderly.
- Families say the bugs are everywhere: clusters were found on a resident’s bed, couches and in the bathroom.
- Resident Antoine Terhune told reporters that the people living there are mostly frail: “I see elders who can barely walk, I see them in wheelchairs, I see them pushing strollers, and different things. They cannot sit and get hit up by bed bugs when they’re going to sleep at night.”
- He urged management to hire professionals: “It is a duty as not just an American but a human to take care of your elders and make sure they’re safe.”
The operator’s response: two units confirmed, treated Sept 4 and Sept 18
- Management confirmed the presence of bed bugs: two units were treated on September 4, with a two-week follow-up treatment scheduled for September 18.
- On top of the re-treatments, management said it has scheduled a building-wide inspection within the coming weeks as a precaution.
- Management urged residents or family members who spot bed bugs to contact the property’s management team right away.
- Note: management confirmed only two units — the families’ claim of a building-wide outbreak has not been confirmed.
Why senior housing is especially vulnerable
- Elderly residents may not notice the early signs: poor eyesight and limited mobility mean infestations are often found only after they have spread.
- Bed bugs hide in bed frames, couch seams and wall edges, places routine cleaning may miss, and come out at night to feed.
- Visitors, carers and shared laundry facilities can all spread bugs — one infested unit can quickly reach the next door.
- Bites hit seniors harder: thin skin heals slowly, itching ruins sleep, and in severe cases bites can lead to skin infections.
What Hong Kong readers can learn: visiting senior homes and checking before moving in
- When visiting a senior home, check bed edges and couch seams for black spots, blood stains or dead bugs.
- Before an elderly relative moves in, inspect the bed frame, mattress edges and wardrobe gaps — never assume a new place is clean.
- After a visit, wash clothes in hot water and tumble-dry them, and never put your coat on the bed.
- Report any sign of bugs to the home’s management immediately, in writing, and do not wait.
Before a trip, read the travel bed bug checklist; if bed bugs come home with you, the DIY bed bug removal guide has the full process.
Sources
- FOX 2 Detroit (September 2026) — https://fox2detroit.com/news/harper-woods-senior-housing-complex-allegedly-infested-bed-bugs-residents-say
(Written: 2026-10-28; compiled from public reports. The families’ claim of a building-wide outbreak has not been confirmed by the operator, which confirmed two units only; details as reported.)