Bed bugs pain disabled residents

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) - Bed bugs have taken over a Norfolk adult care center. Management at the Anchorage said they're going to spray, but the disabled residents will have nowhere to go during that time.

Lurline Farwell never expected to end up living at the Anchorage in Norfolk.

" I have  multiple sclerosis ," Farwell said.

Farwell has called the independent living facility home since it opened in 1999.

" I use to walk and now I'm in a wheelchair ," Farwell added.

But these days, things are he said things are like home sweet home.

" I do not want to see any bed bugs ," Farwell said.

Beg bugs have over run the complex .

"They bite, they cause a lot of inconvenience, you need medication, and the people here are already people here fighting for their lives everyday ," said nurse Josie Gee. "Why do they need that extra struggle ?"

" I've tried to be as independent as God has given to me ," Farwell added.

That independence has been hampered by the bugs . Facility managers sent a letter letting residents know the building will be fumigated next Tuesday.  That was great news for the residents , but they were told they have to leave for at least eight hours.

" A lot of these people that live in this building have extreme disabilities ," Gee said. "They can't walk . A lot of them are confined to wheel chairs and a lot of them are confined to the bed ."

Gee is a nurse for one of the residents . She would like to see management make arrangements to take residents to warm place as the building is being treated.

" It's the 21st of December and they are asking them to leave ,"  Gee added. "It's four days before Christmas. What are they to do ?"

WAVY.com called the property manager several times Wednesday and left messages to see if there are any plans in the works to help the residents out while the building is being treated, but none of our calls were returned.