Investigators lay blame for Twin Cities senior's death on care facility
Minnesota state investigators say a Twin Cities senior living facility is to blame for a resident's death after he was found trapped in the bed rail in December.
A 20-page report from the Minnesota Department of Health says the Oak Park Senior Living facility in Oak Park Heights neglected to provide adequate wellness checks before the man died.
According to the report, on Dec. 28, 2024, an unlicensed employee at the facility called 911 after they found the man on the floor with his arm wedged between the frame of his bed and a bed rail, with his feet pinned underneath his motorized wheelchair.
The man later told first responders he had been stuck for two days and had requested staff check on him.
He was rushed to the hospital and later died from complications, including sepsis and kidney failure.
Investigators determined that bed rail was not assessed by nursing staff for safety or potential dangers.
"The lack of a wellness check is also what harmed my dad," said Kris Sundberg, Executive Director of Elder Voice Advocates.
Sundberg said this case is very similar to what happened to her own father inside a senior living facility.
"His body was left in his room without being given a wellness check for seven days," said Sundberg.
Sundberg's father, 89-year-old Werner Allen, died in 2016.
"We don't know how long did dad suffer while he was laying there," said Sundberg.
The Minnesota Department of Health fined the Oak Park Heights $5,000.
Until there are stiffer fines, Sundberg said incidents like these will just keep happening.
"I think one of the quick and effective ways, is lets start using some meaningful penalties, especially when a death occurs. I'll tell you, if that happened in a child care facility, they'd be spending time in jail," said Sundberg.
Oak Park Senior Living has an opportunity to appeal the ruling.
In a statement to WCCO on Thursday, Residence Director Terri Pratt said this:
"While this incident is truly unfortunate, it is not a reflection of the overall quality of care provided at Oak Park Senior Living. We strive to provide the type of high quality, compassionate care that residents and their families want, expect and deserve.
We are sorry for the pain this has caused to this resident's family. Our first priority—always—is to provide quality care and to keep residents safe.
As a result of this incident, Oak Park Senior Living has evaluated and updated its procedures for conducting safety checks and nursing assessments of patient needs and equipment."
