State probe finds Duluth facility's neglect allowed resident to drink cleaning chemical

The facility failed to implement safety precautions, the report said


The Minnesota Health Department ruled that operators of Westwood of Duluth senior facility  were negligent when a 70-year-old man inadvertently poisoned himself and died on Feb. 19, according to an article on the Star Tribune website.

A resident at a the senior care apartment complex, who was known for rummaging around for food and drink, downed a cleaning chemical that eventually  killed him three days later.

According to details of the state death investigation released Tuesday, “The facility failed to implement safety precautions” knowing that Nelson “had a history of climbing over the kitchen gate [and] failed to otherwise secure chemical cleaners.”

In response to the death, Westwood staff removed chemicals from under the kitchen sink and put locks on all cabinets, the report said.

Read the article.



May 16, 2019


Topic Area: Safety


Recent Posts

Mature Dry Surface Biofilm Presents a Problem for Candida Auris

Multiple methods are described in the literature, but no consensus has been reached for disinfection efficacy tests against biofilms.


Sutter Health's Arden Care Center Officially Opens

With an adaptive reuse of an underutilized office building, the 70,000 square-foot facility was renovated to meet current healthcare standards.


Insight Hospital and Medical Center Falls to Data Breach

The investigation determined that an unauthorized individual accessed the network between August 22, 2025, and September 11, 2025.


The High Cost of Healthcare Violence

As workplace violence increases, healthcare facilities face mounting financial and operational disruptions- prompting legislative action.


EVS Teams Can Improve Patient Experience in Emergency Departments

A report confirmed that cleanliness of the ED was the third most impactful element on patient experience surveys.


 
 


FREE Newsletter Signup Form

News & Updates | Webcast Alerts
Building Technologies | & More!

 
 
 


All fields are required. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

 
 
 
 

Healthcare Facilities Today membership includes free email newsletters from our facility-industry brands.

Facebook   Twitter   LinkedIn   Posts

Copyright © 2023 TradePress. All rights reserved.