OTTAWA COUNTY, MI -- State health officials are investigating after a 100-year-old woman died at a Jenison adult care home, Department of Human Services spokesperson David Akerly confirmed.
The DHS Bureau of Children and Adult Licensing is conducting an investigation after receiving notification from Sunset Manor Retirement Communities that a resident was found deceased over the weekend.
Ottawa County sheriff's Capt. Mark Bennett on Tuesday said it appears the woman, Sarah Bredeweg, suffocated in bed after slipping between the mattress and bed rail.
The woman had been in the assisted living facility, but was otherwise able to care for herself, Bennett said.
Akerly said a state investigation is standard protocol in a case like this to determine whether there was any wrongdoing on the part of the care facility.
The investigation began "immediately" after DHS officials were notified of the death, Akerly said.
Investigations may take three months.
The result could be a finding that staff did nothing wrong, that there was wrongdoing and a citation is issued, or that, in a serious case, the facility's license is suspended, Akerly said.
Bredeweg was born in Grand Rapids and lived in Jamestown Township through her married years, according to her obituary.
Family declined comment on her death, but her obituary asks that any memorial contributions be made to the care home, Sunset Manor.
A funeral is planned for 11 a.m. Friday, April 18, at Matthysse-Kuiper-DeGraaf Funeral home, 4145 Chicago Drive in Grandville.