Finding into death of Doris Pearl Townsend

91y · Female·kidney impairment and dehydration following thermal injury to right leg in an elderly woman with cerebrovascular disease

A 91-year-old woman with cerebrovascular disease and right-sided paralysis sustained a significant second-degree burn to her lower right leg when it fell against a hydronic heater beside her bed at an aged care facility. Over six weeks, she developed progressive dehydration and acute kidney injury due to poor oral intake, leading to admission and palliative care. The coroner found the bed placement proximate to a heater was imprudent given her immobility and co-morbidities. Key lessons include the critical need to assess environmental hazards for vulnerable residents, ensure prompt recognition and documentation of injuries, timely family communication, and implement facility-wide safety protocols. The case highlights how preventable environmental injuries in aged care can have serious cascading consequences.