Residents and Caregivers Alarmed by Persistent Pest Infestations at Billings' Sage Tower

Residents and caregivers at Sage Tower, a downtown Billings apartment complex, are voicing serious concerns over persistent bed bug and cockroach infestations that have plagued the building for years.

 

Longtime resident Robert Case expressed his frustration, stating, "It's an alright place, if they can get rid of the bedbugs and the cockroaches." Despite regular treatments, the infestations persist, making daily life increasingly difficult.

 

Case noted that while bed bugs remain an issue, cockroaches have become more prevalent in recent years. "The cockroaches, they kind of like they take over now, and never was like this about two years ago," he said.

 

The pest problems have also impacted caregivers who provide in-home assistance to residents. Vicki Zimmerer Scott, a local nurse, reported that several caregivers have refused to enter the building due to the infestations. "That's the impact on the client is that they don't have a caregiver," Scott explained. "The residents don't get the care unless somebody else is willing to go in there."

 

Scott recounted a particularly troubling incident where a resident stood by his caregiver at the sink, saying, "Do you want me to stand here next to you so the cockroaches don't get you?" This, she said, was "the straw that broke the camel's back for me."

 

Efforts to address the issue have been inconsistent. Case mentioned that treatments are supposed to occur monthly or every couple of months, but this schedule isn't always followed. Even when treatments are conducted, the relief is temporary. "No matter how many times you spray it, it's just not doing what it's supposed to do," he lamented.

 

Management's response has been under scrutiny. Scott stated that she has raised concerns with management repeatedly over the years, calling at least once a year and more frequently in recent weeks. "I've called various people before, gotten no responses, left messages," she said. "These people don't have a voice, so I guess I'm going to be their voice here."

 

The situation at Sage Tower highlights broader challenges in maintaining safe and healthy living conditions in low-income housing. Residents and caregivers are calling for more effective and consistent pest control measures to ensure the well-being of all occupants.

 

As the community grapples with these issues, the need for comprehensive solutions becomes increasingly urgent. Ensuring that residents have access to clean and safe living environments is essential for their health and the provision of necessary care services.