Maple Grove Facility Contributed To Woman's Death: MDH

MAPLE GROVE, MN — A long-ignored door malfunction contributed to a woman's death at an assisted-living center in Maple Grove, a Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) investigation found. For three years, possibly longer, a stairway door's locking mechanism wouldn't function properly if you didn't get it some extra attention, according to officials.

The mechanical issue was well known to Wildflower Lodge staff members, but it continued to go unfixed. Then, in January, Ula Peoples, 89, fell behind the door to her death. An MDH investigation released last week cites the broken door as a contributing factor in Peoples' fatal fall, the Star Tribune reported.

The report said that care staff, maintenance staff, nurses and management were all aware of the broken door, but did nothing to fix it. The door did however feature signs that reminded users to "double check that door is locked" and "wait for the click, 20-second delay," according to the newspaper

Read much more at the Star Tribune.

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