JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A Jacksonville nursing home is responding to concerns about conditions inside the facility after a recent report alleged issues ranging from cleanliness to maintenance problems.
Administrators at Jacksonville Rehabilitation and Nursing say those claims do not reflect the day-to-day reality inside the building. After being contacted for comment, the facility invited media inside to tour the property and speak with staff and residents.
“We take all of those types of complaints seriously,” administrator Kevin Bryant said. “We do rounding every single day… and if there is an issue, we report it right then and there.”
Bryant said staff conduct daily walkthroughs to identify and address concerns, adding that maintenance issues are handled as they arise. He also addressed specific problems highlighted in the earlier report, including a water leak and elevator concerns, describing them as temporary situations that were being fixed at the time.
The facility, which first opened in 1967, came under new ownership in 2024. Bryant said since then, the company has invested in improvements, including repairs, landscaping and safety upgrades.
He also pointed to a recent state inspection that found no deficiencies.
“They evaluated our maintenance, our cleanliness, our pest control… and when they came in, they said we had no deficiencies,” Bryant said.
The inspection followed complaints that prompted a closer look by state regulators.
Jacksonville City Councilwoman Ju’Coby Pittman said she was initially concerned when she saw the earlier report but decided to visit the facility herself.
“My initial reaction was that I was very concerned,” Pittman said. “But after I came and saw it for myself, I wasn’t concerned anymore.”
Pittman said the facility plays an important role in the community, particularly for families who want their loved ones to remain close to home.
Residents also shared mixed but generally positive experiences. One resident described the environment as “cool” and said staff members are friendly and attentive. He added that he has noticed improvements, including updates to rooms and building conditions.
A longtime nurse at the facility said she has seen changes under the new ownership and described them as positive.
“I have seen the change, but not for the bad—for the good,” she said. “It’s wonderful.”
Bryant said the facility is focused on continuing improvements and maintaining transparency with residents and families.
“Trust is built through transparency,” he said. “If there’s an issue, we’re going to address it.”