JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Police have identified a woman who died Thursday morning in what the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office said was an apparent accident at the Woodland Grove Health and Rehabilitation Center.
Officers answering a 2 a.m. call at the facility on Southpoint Boulevard near Belfort Road learned Gayle Davidson, 79, died after she fell from her bed and hit her head, the Sheriff's Office said.
The Sheriff's Office said Davidson's death is currently under investigation as an accident, and noted that investigators do not suspect foul play.
A spokesperson for the company that manages Woodland Grove gave a statement saying: “We are working closely with facility operations, investigators and family members to determine the circumstances surrounding this matter.”
A News4Jax search of state health care records found no deficiencies were discovered at the facility during five inspections conducted as a result of complaints last year.
A fire and safety inspection in February 2017 did turn up some issues with miscellaneous items, such as exit doors, space heaters and a deep fat fryer. Those issues have since been corrected.
Unlike nursing homes, the level of care at assisted-living facilities varies, according to attorney Steve Watrel, who has handled several cases concerning the facilities.
"It can go as simple as 'we’re just going to call you in the morning to make sure you are OK' or 'we are going to come to your room, give your medicines, bring you your meals, wound care,'" Attorney Steve Watrel said. "It can go very high."
Watrel said Thursday morning's incident will likely be reviewed by the Florida Department of Children and Families to see if there is any negligence involved.
"If this person has a history of falling ... they are supposed to be watched or have a monitoring device or some type of device on their bed that wasn’t there," Watrel said.
According to Medicare.gov, Woodland Grove received an average overall rating (3 out of 5), but has a below average health inspection rating (2 out of 5).
Among the findings from the February inspection were lacking efforts to prevent and treat bedsores and inedible food -- one resident said her breadstick was hard as a rock, federal records show.