Floyd Taylor, 86, was a resident at the Kipnes Centre for Veterans in Edmonton. (Courtesy of the Taylor family)

Capital Health is investigating the death of an Edmonton nursing home resident who died after suffering burns from drinking industrial dishwashing liquid.

Floyd Taylor, 86, who lived at the Kipnes Centre for Veterans, was seen on Sept. 12 spitting liquid into the sink in a communal kitchen.

Taylor, who had Alzheimer's disease, was taken to hospital with burns to his mouth, vocal cords and esophagus. He died four days later.

Members of Taylor's family said he likely drank the fluid thinking it was juice.

In a written release sent to CBC News by Taylor's daughter Lynda Chambul, the family said Taylor had advanced Alzheimer's disease, and they believed his death to be accidental.

"Dad inadvertently swallowed industrial liquid dishwashing detergent with lye and was severely burned as a result. Given his age and condition there was very little that the hospital could do to relieve Dad's pain and suffering. Dad spent the last four days of his life in agony as the result of a preventable accident," the release said.

"We, Floyd Taylor's family, cannot change the past; however, we hope and pray that this tragedy will result in improvements made to the care and safety of seniors everywhere."

Rob Stevenson, a spokesman for Alberta Health Services, said Tuesday the circumstances of Taylor's death are under investigation.

"I'm not sure specifically as to the nature of what happened, if it was something that was left inappropriately or if there was a cupboard that was unlocked," Stevenson said.

"At this point what we've done is communicated the nature of the incident to our long-term care providers, but also indicated how best we can avoid something like this in the future," he said. "Our No. 1 goal or our No. 1 priority at this point is ensuring that something like this does not happen again."

Stevenson said a report on Taylor's death should be completed in a month.

Taylor served in the Navy in the Second World War, and worked as an estates officer for Alberta's Attorney General, and a senior investigator for the Ombudsman of Alberta, his family said.

He is survived by his wife, a sister, three children, and four grandchildren.