The family of a 94-year old woman who died from exposure after wandering outside a Montreal-area seniors residence wants to know how the Alzheimer's patient was able to elude staff and the electronic monitoring system that were supposed to keep her safe.

Louise Simon was found by an employee of the Griffith-McConnell residence in Côte-Saint-Luc, Que., on the morning of March 3. She was lying on the ground, wearing only a nightgown.

Her family told media on Friday that they believe she had been outside for at least two hours.

Simon was rushed to the hospital, where she died of heart failure that doctors said was caused by exposure to the cold.

Simon had been wearing a bracelet that should have triggered an alarm whenever she tried to open any door in the residence.

Her family believes the door she used to get outside must not have been connected to the system. What's more, that particular door has a sign on it indicating that an alarm will sound whenever it is opened, said Simon's daughter, Patricia.

"Hopefully, this incident will make them realize that there is a weak link in their chain," she said.

'We count on them being safe inside the residence.'— Patricia Simon

She said the family is outraged that such a lapse in security could happen — with such tragic results.

"All of her family would have liked to have said goodbye to her," said Patricia Simon. "I'm sorry that she had that experience of lying in the cold."

"The issue is that many families feel obliged to put parents, elderly parents — especially with Alzheimer's — in a residence because they feel they can’t ensure the safety of their parents at home. We count on them being safe inside the residence."

Officials at the Griffith-McConnell residence declined to do an interview. But in a written statement, executive director Annette Rudy said the home takes "all reasonable precautions in order to keep all residents safe."