My parents have bats in their airing cupboard

sarahandme

onwards&upwards said:

sarahandme said:

onwards&upwards said:

Why don't you swap houses with your parents until the bats are gone?  Or try to reassure your mum and help her overcome the fear rather than feeding it?

Plus for the record hubby found yet another one today in mums bathroom sink,  now imagine had that have been her, a shock like that could kill her. 

No it couldn't, being overdramatic doesn't help the situation, you'll only be making your mum feel worse.

No I mean if we were not there, and it was last thing at night for example,  seeing a bat in your sink when you're petrified of them is enough to frighten her to death. Its not us being overdramatic. If anything we been trying to reassure her. But when you got a phobia of something its not easy to live with. 

Motormad20

It’s looks like nobody replying to the OP has ever had a phobia of any kind or probably been living with bats in their house either.

sarahandme

Motormad20 said:

It’s looks like nobody replying to the OP has ever had a phobia of any kind or probably been living with bats in their house either.

Very true,  I cant believe how insensitive some people can be. Lets see how they cope when its their mothers. They behave as if they are born without any mothers. 

donnac2558

No, people are stating facts bats are protected and have give sensible advice. 

If the OP's mother is so fragile perhaps shelter accommodation where a warden is on hand to deal with things like this.   This lady is in her 80s has another toilet to use and I am sure washed in the kitchen sink as a child.   The bats will be dealt with next week.

The bats are more afraid of her and she is of them.

Tigsteroonie

I've lived with bats in the house! 

But have nothing useful to offer, sorry. Ex and I had a roost in a part of the attic that we couldn't access ourselves, so they never became a bother, just a fascination. I do remember that everybody told us not to take matters into our own hands, and (as we were in Scotland) we got in contact with SNH who sent out a 'bat man' who confirmed them as pipistrelles. The bats left through other circumstances a few years later. 

Pollycat

Motormad20 said:

It’s looks like nobody replying to the OP has ever had a phobia of any kind or probably been living with bats in their house either.

Well, I had a phobia about earwigs.

We had an infestation when I was young, we had to have the Council out numerous times to try to get rid of them.

Imagine closing your bedroom curtains and having dozens fall on the floor.

Imagine turning your sheets back and finding them in your bed.

So yes, I do understand phobias.

However, it seems that every suggestion that is made, the OP rejects it.

If it were my Mum - only 2 bedrooms or not - I'd have her and my Dad installed in my house until someone who is qualified to deal with this situation could come and sort it out. Even if it meant me and OH sleeping on sofas.

itsanne

I like bats, but I don't fancy them fluttering arond me in the house so I can understand your mum's reaction, especially if she has a phobia about them. We've had bats living between the conservatory and the original outer house wall for years. Some years they appear and then they miss a year and come back the following one. It's fascinating to watch them leave at dusk, one at a time through an incredibly small hole.

If your mum's are roosting in the airing cupboard they will have got in via a tiny hole inside it, not via the bathroom.  Therefore, while it's illegal to disturb the bats, it wouldn't be a problem to leave the lights on in the toilet and bathroom. That would stop the bats appearing in either but wouldn't cause them any harm and your mother could use both rooms without worrying about them. (She'll probably still worry until they are gone, but she should be able to use the rooms.)

If she remains over-anxious despite reassurance and leaving the lights on, rather than have her avoid using the toilet (which could lead to health problems) you could buy a camping toilet (loads on Amazon etc) for her to use in the bedroom.

gwynlas

No suggestions regarding what to do regarding the bats as this will be attended to.
Please ensure that your mother is not limiting her fluid intake as this could very quickly lead to a UTI with confusion that can be wrongly attributed to signs of dementia.
I'm another one who would move your parents in with  yourselves even if this meant buying a cheap sofabed

sarahandme

gwynlas said:

I'm another one who would move your parents in with  yourselves even if this meant buying a cheap sofabed

Thanks, well today I offered both mum & dad to come live with us, but both refused,  both said it wouldn't work as we have our children aswell.
One bit of good news though we went there today and not a bat in sight, so the one in the sink yesterday as found a way out and no more found their way in, so I guess leaving the light on in the bathroom did the trick.  So even if experts came now they wouldn't find anything other than droppings on the airing cupboard floor. But I have a feeling this isnt the end of it. It isn't practical to leave the light on 24/7 day and night is it? 

sarahandme

donnac2558 said:

If the OP's mother is so fragile perhaps shelter accommodation where a warden is on hand to deal with things like this.   

Obviously that wouldn't help one bit. An elderly person likes their own surroundings, moving them to somewhere like that could finish them off. 
I remember when my auntie had to move out of her house because she couldn't climb the stairs to her bedroom anymore, so her siblings moved her into a care home. She didn't last a month and she died, yet she was otherwise fine, it was just she had bad knees. But ripping her out of her beloved home basically killed her off. I can't do this to mum.