'Understaffing' and 'bad security' caused nursing home to allow 100-year-old dementia patient to wander off before she was found dead on Christmas morning OUTSIDE Florida facility, family claims in lawsuit

The family of a 100-year-old nursing home patient with dementia found dead outside her assisted-living facility on Christmas morning blames woeful understaffing and poor security for allowing the woman to leave the building, their lawsuit said. 

Annie Hanna was found lying barefoot next to her pillow and walker alone on the frost-covered ground in front of the Senior Living Woodmont at around 7.45am, the Tallahassee Fire Department said.

The family matriarch had a broken thigh bone as well as cuts and bruises but died from hypothermia after being exposed to the frigid mid-20s weather, the family said.

Hanna's sister, who roomed with her, attempted to contact facility staff when she noticed Hanna was missing but did not receive a response. 

Her death came after two other patients escaped the facility but were returned safely. One was found at a Greyhound bus station and the other on the interstate. 

Florida woman Annie Hanna, 100, was found dead from hypothermia on Christmas morning

Hanna's family filed a lawsuit with the Pacifica Senior Living Woodmont after claiming its neglect to look after her, a request they specifically made as she suffered from dementia and was on oxygen

Hanna was in the care of Pacifica Senior Living Woodmont when she left the facility and was found on the frost-covered ground with multiple injuries

Hanna's son was shocked to discover the death of his mother when he came to visit her on Christmas morning after he saw emergency crews on the scene. 

The family reportedly told the facility staff - who didn't know she was missing - to look after her every few hours because of her condition.

The facility was understaffed on the night of Christmas Eve with only two staff members working at the time, according to the lawsuit complaint.  

 The security at the facility was cited as a problem due to the fact that a 'kitchen door' has been used as a way for patients to easily slip out, the suit said.

Although other areas of the facility have installed alert systems, Hanna and two other patients managed to leave the facility within the matter of a few months.

State regulators were informed of the incident with Hanna and the one found at the Greyhound station by a facility administrator.

Another staff member later informed the state regulators of the third incident involving the patient found on the Interstate.

Higher security was installed, but an incident report was not filled out for it, according to an official from the Pacifica Senior Living Woodmont. 

DailyMail.com reached out to Pacifica Senior Living Woodmont and Leon Circuit Civil Court for comment. 

Hanna was a family woman who was survived by her three children along with grandchildren, nieces, nephews and friends

At 18, Hanna served as a nurse at the Florida State Hospital and also worked as a welder during World War Two while her husband was serving in Egypt

A funeral service was held for Hanna on January 4 at Abbey Funeral Home.

Hanna was a family woman and a community service leader for the state of Florida throughout her life.

When she was 18, she began working as a nurse at the Florida State Hospital and also worked as a welder during World War Two while her husband served in Egypt. 

She eventually retired after working as a head cashier for the Florida's Controller Office.

Hanna also served 36 years with the American Legion and was a lifelong sister of the Beta Sigma Phi Sorority. 

She is survived by her three children as well as several grandchildren.