98 yr.old woman kills 100 yr.old roomate

**rosey7415** · 12-12-2009, 06:05 PM

can you believe this? the oldest murderer in massachusetts. it wont go to trial.....she is too old and has dementia.....

http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/.../NEWSLETTER100

**pollypurebred39** · 12-12-2009, 06:15 PM

I read this, just horrible!

**AnW819** · 12-12-2009, 06:17 PM

Wow..I don't know how I feel about this. My grandma has bad demensia and is a very angry woman..but she still knows pretty much what is going on. You know when you are trying to kill someone..

I know many others may not agree--but murder is murder. She actually put the bag over her head and strangled her. She should be punished imo.

**frugalfranny** · 12-12-2009, 07:06 PM

And as mean as my dad got before we got him into a home, I can TOTALLY understand this.

You don't think about the personality changes that this causes. Nor do you think about the strength that they can glean from their anger.

The words 'mentally incompetent' come to mind.....but as the boomers age and we have more of the dementia we will see more violence.

My dad was HORRIBLE! I was going to an Alz. support group and they would warn me that they(people w. dem) can be REALLY VICIOUS and it was nothing to fool around with. I would go down to visit/help him on my own - and he lived 9 miles out in the country. While I was learning 'how to cope' we almost came to blows a couple times.

You learn to cope with 'their world' as they have already left YOUR world.

**Ceashels** · 12-12-2009, 07:15 PM

After being moved to a new room, with a new roommate, Sutter said, Lundquist saw a white plastic bag similar to the one found over Barrow's head and said "she had a bag like Betty and I hope I don't have to use it."

Oh yeah, she doesn't know she did it. I would have no problem having her spend her last 1-2 yrs in isolation at a state run facility.

**AnW819** · 12-12-2009, 07:19 PM

I also feel that the nursing homes should be aware of things like this. Dementia can cause elderly people to be very mean...I feel this should mean they should room alone!

**Dancing Lotus** · 12-12-2009, 07:33 PM

I dont' think anyone is to blame but the nursing home. Why didn't they separate them?

**sinopa27** · 12-12-2009, 07:49 PM

When I first read the title of this post BEFORE reading the article, I thought i was a mercy killing because of their age. Now that I read the article, I feel so bad for all of those involved. I used to work in a nursing home. I know that some meds make patients paranoid. She had dementia and probably a history of psych issues. It's so sad. You would think she wouldn't know how to kill with a plastic bag though.

**frugalfranny** · 12-13-2009, 01:41 AM

Originally Posted by AnW819

I also feel that the nursing homes should be aware of things like this. Dementia can cause elderly people to be very mean...I feel this should mean they should room alone!

The homes usually are aware of it but they can become soooo very unpredictable that you never know. Also, often there isn't enough room for them to live alone in a room and if they do it will often cost more. It is all a catch 22 for everyone involved.

**Teresa T** · 12-14-2009, 08:27 PM

Originally Posted by AnnK

I dont' think anyone is to blame but the nursing home. Why didn't they separate them?

You can't have any idea of what it is like to work in one of these places.

**NikoSan999** · 12-14-2009, 08:37 PM

Originally Posted by Teresa T

You can't have any idea of what it is like to work in one of these places.

That's the truth...I worked in one along time ago...the stories I could tell.

On the other hand there were alot of sweet old people too. One thing I didn't like...I watched alot walk in on their own talking away. Within a couple months they were lucky to get out of bed with help and they just mumbled. And I do mean a couple months.

QM · 12-14-2009, 08:42 PM

That's quite a story. Sad.

**Luckybustert** · 12-14-2009, 11:45 PM

I think someone has to take responsibility for the residents' safety. If not those running/staffing nursing homes, then who?

**annymoll** · 12-15-2009, 12:00 AM

Kind and forgiving my arse. You bet your sweet cookies that home is responsible, and so was the nursing staff.I darn well better not find MY family member abused by residents, or the staff, let alone killed. One word.....Lawsuit.

**mama2James** · 12-15-2009, 07:25 AM

IMO, it would be cruel to punish a demented elderly woman for this. She cannot be held responsible with a history of dementia. Even if she "remembers" what she did, she is not competent to even stand trial. Wouldn't bring the other lady back anyway, and I don't see too much likelyhood that this lady will kill again, honestly. I agree with other who have said that the nursing home should be held responsible, but only if there was reason to suspect she might do harm before this happened. Otherwise, how could they have known? We don't know, maybe the staff told the victim's family about the danger and they didn't want to move her because a private room would cost too much, (seen that situation myself as a nursing home staff member). We don't have all the details. In any case, this is so, so sad.