Missouri Nursing Home Resident Found Dead Outside Facility
Ninety-five year old Fannie Mae Rooks was found dead in her wheelchair in an outside smoking area early Wednesday morning in cold, rainy 40 degree weather. Ms. Rooks, a resident of Northgate Park Nursing Home in Florissant, Missouri, was last seen around 9:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 23, 2008 after being given her medications. Staff alleges that Ms. Rooks must have wheeled herself outside, but her son, Eugene Rooks, said she was too frail to do that and she would not have been able to pull open a heavy door - and she was a nonsmoker.
Preliminary reports from Ms. Rooks' autopsy showed that the death was weather-related. Ms. Rooks did not have Alzheimer's disease or dementia and was alert. She had lived in a nursing home for approximately six years in the assisted living portion of the campus. About two weeks ago, she needed more care and her family moved her to Northgate.
Northgate recently received a one-star rating from The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The score was based upon inspections of the facility, staff-to-patient ratio, and quality of care issues, such as percentage of residents developing bedsores. The facility, owned by CommuniCare Health Services, has said it is cooperating with investigating authorities. Florissant Police Chief Bill Karabas said "It's a sad case, maybe neglect."
