GILBERT, Ariz. — A 88-year-old woman was found deceased Monday afternoon after she allegedly walked out of a memory care facility in the East Valley.
Ina Jenkins was last seen Monday morning at about 6 a.m. at the Silver Creek Inn Memory Care Center, which specializes in treating residents living with dementia.
Gilbert police say they were notified at about 9 a.m. of Jenkins' absence from the care facility and officers made efforts to locate her.
Jenkins was later found deceased at about 3 p.m. in Mesa near Southern Avenue and 58th Street, which is about a 1.5-mile walk from the care facility.
Police say investigators are awaiting the results of an autopsy to determine how Jenkins died.
The Arizona Department of Health Services is also investigating what happened. Local advocates for seniors are also demanding answers.
"Something went wrong and unfortunately an 88-year-old woman walked out the door and died," said Dana Kennedy the State Director for AZ AARP. She has been vocal about how these types of facilities don't have many regulations she says. Kennedy questions if the memory care center had proper security in place to prevent these situations from happening.
"It should have been alerted as soon as she opened the door that somebody was leaving the facility," Kennedy says. "So it seems like a lot of things that should be in place may not have been in place, that if they were they weren't being adhered to."
According to the Silver Creek Inn website, it does have motion sensor and window sensors to alert staff.
Representatives of the care facility told 12News they're not sure how Jenkins got out of the facility and they're cooperating with the police investigation.
12News did receive a statement from the Executive Director Bonnie Hollabaugh of Koelsch Communities, the parent company of the Silver Creek Inn, about the investigation:
"Ms. Jenkins was a cherished member of our community for the past year, and we share her family's grief and sadness during this tragic time. The safety and well-being of our residents is our top priority. We are taking all appropriate actions to support the efforts of law enforcement and emergency services as they investigate this incident."
Public records show the East Valley facility was issued a $1,000 fine last summer for failing "to ensure service plans were established and documented for two residents," according to the Arizona Department of Health Services.
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