St. Peter Nursing Home Facing Wrongful Death Suit

After falling from the hands of her caregiver, and in front of her three daughters, Esther Rannow, a 91 year-old resident at Benedictine Living Community in St. Peter, passed out into a wheelchair and had to be transported to a hospital.  Once there, Rannow never regained consciousness and died three days later, as reported by the Mankato Free Press.

A month earlier her daughters recorded a similar episode.  At that time they detected cuts and bruises on their mother's body.  Audrey Glamm, one of Rannow's daughters, asked the Minnesota Department of Health to investigate the nursing home

The investigation didn't find any conclusive evidence of neglect.

The family has decided to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the nursing home.  They allege that the staff at Benedictine Living Community failed to both identify, and treat, a deadly medical condition in their ailing mother.

The lawsuit states that Rannow died from an undetected and untreated urinary tract infection that led to septic shock.

The family contends that symptoms of their mother's discomfort from the infection were apparent several days before her death. 

Glamm said, "It was their denials that got me, they denied and denied and denied everything. We were right there when they dropped mom, but they're denying everything.  If they would have just admitted their wrongs, we wouldn't be going through all of this."

Though the health department's investigation was inconclusive, they did note that Rannow's skin was torn.  When a nursing assistant tried do lift her on September 8, 2007, the tore gave way to a larger cut.  The report continued to state that the assistant only grabbed Rannow by the arm to avoid a more serious injury.

The facility has since changed their policy and now requires two employees to assist in moving a patient.

But, on October 6, 2007, the new plan wasn't followed; and a single employee again moved her.  As that incident caused Rannow no harm, the state found all neglect allegations inconclusive.

Janis Kivela Hooey, the community affairs manager for the nursing home, said, "First, Benedictine Living Community of St. Peter and its staff were saddened by the death of 91-year-old resident Esther Rannow, and have and continue to extend their sympathies to the family.  Providing quality care to all residents is a priority at the Benedictine Living Community of St. Peter, and it believes that proper care was provided."

Rannow's children contend that their mother's health spiraled downward once she entered the nursing home facility.  She began using a wheelchair instead of taking the frequent walks she once enjoyed.  She also complained - more than once - of being roughly handled.

Glamm recalls meeting her mother and siblings at the emergency room three days before her mother passed away.  She said, "When I walked into the ER, she was screaming with pain.  I said, 'What happened, Mom?' and she said, 'They dropped me again.'"

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