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98 Year Old Kills 100 Year Old Roommate


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Laura Lundquist 98, killed her nursing home roommate Elizabeth Barrow over an argument about a table that was placed at the foot of Barrow's bed. Barrow was discovered dead on September 24 with a plastic shopping bag tied loosely around her head. An autopsy showed that Barrow had been strangled. Elisabeth Barrow complained that the table obstructed her path to the bathroom. When a nurse's aide moved it,Laura Lundquist punched the aide and complain that her roommate "might as well have the whole room." Barrow had complained that Lundquist was making her life "a living hell". A nursing home spokesman said they twice offered Barrow with the chance to change rooms or roommates, but she declined.

CNN

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Sad. But a small percentage of the aging population do suffer from conditions that impair their sense of judgment, especially their ability to check impulses. These conditions can also negatively affect mood. I think it is possible that the crime emerged out of such kind of impairment in Lundquist. It is unfortunate that Ms. Lundquist wasn't evaluated prior to the violent event and that Ms. Barrow was so kind and forgiving. It's very unfortunate, very sad. I feel very badly for both families. But I don't know if I would prosecute for murder 1 without first giving Ms. Lundquist a thorough psychological evaluation plus check for recent stroke activity.

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Sad. But a small percentage of the aging population do suffer from conditions that impair their sense of judgment, especially their ability to check impulses. These conditions can also negatively affect mood. I think it is possible that the crime emerged out of such kind of impairment in Lundquist. It is unfortunate that Ms. Lundquist wasn't evaluated prior to the violent event and that Ms. Barrow was so kind and forgiving. It's very unfortunate, very sad. I feel very badly for both families. But I don't know if I would prosecute for murder 1 without first giving Ms. Lundquist a thorough psychological evaluation plus check for recent stroke activity.

wow u said it all wat a mouthful but indeed agreed upon that she may not have been all there like u said but if they do anything i guess it will show up in the news so gotta wait and see

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I suspect this kind of thing happens more often than we know. When my uncle was in a nursing home with alzheimers, they had to move him because his roommate was being abusive to him. That was an excellent facility where the staff really stayed on top of things... I imagine it might have been different in a facility that was not as well run.

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I suspect this kind of thing happens more often than we know. When my uncle was in a nursing home with alzheimers, they had to move him because his roommate was being abusive to him. That was an excellent facility where the staff really stayed on top of things... I imagine it might have been different in a facility that was not as well run.

I agree. I think it is relatively common for the aged to become violent. I think age-related illnesses or disorders are often the cause, much more than perhaps the general public is aware.

Alzheimer's (though not apparently affecting your grandfather in that way), Parkinson's (late stage with dementia), strokes, and other disorders can manifest paranoia and tendencies toward violence in the elderly. Both of my grandmothers were so afflicted. Fortunately, my maternal grandmother (who suffered from dementia brought on by late stage Parkinson's and believed the last six months of her life that she was being held hostage in a bank by conspiring church officials) was too weak to act on her impulses. She had moments of clarity toward the very end and became highly affectionate in those moments, but was primarily verbally abusive and physically resistant until major changes in her medication. My paternal grandmother had Alzheimer's and suffered Sundowner Syndrome. She became easily and unreasonably agitated in the late afternoon and early evening, highly paranoid, and sometimes physically threatening. She would break things, run away, act out as if she were fending off a violent attacker, and frequently accused other patients of intending her harm. The rest of the time, she was sweet and friendly, adoring of soft, cuddly things living or stuffed, and told jokes.

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nursing home violence happeneds alot. Iv never seen a patient kill there roommate yet, but I have seen them throw things at eachother. The last time we had a lady throw her phone at her roommate and clock the lady in the head with it. Hell in the last week iv had one kick and punch me upon arrival.. LOL Its not their fault... I just chalk it up as part of the job :/

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My grandmother also had Alzheimer's and she lacked impulse control at times. She smacked my grandfather around a couple of times and cussed out various family members as well. It's rather sad watching someone you love slowly lose their mind. My grandmother developed the early stages about 5 years before her death. By the time she died, she had no memory of who she was or who any of her family was and she was bedridden by then.

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My grandfather had dementia as well though it wasn't to severe for him or painful for us. He was born and raised in Canada so he was a huge Hockey fan. So most of his delusions were for, lack of a better term, happy. He always just got back from playing hockey or watching hockey or hanging out with the "55" Wings so he wasn't really ever sad or angry

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I agree. I think it is relatively common for the aged to become violent. I think age-related illnesses or disorders are often the cause, much more than perhaps the general public is aware.

Alzheimer's (though not apparently affecting your grandfather in that way), Parkinson's (late stage with dementia), strokes, and other disorders can manifest paranoia and tendencies toward violence in the elderly.

Actually Uncle Al did go through that in the early stages... he got really paranoid and kept accusing my auntie of seeing other men (i.e. any male who came to the house). She finally put him in the nursing home after he starting hiding kitchen knives under his pillow. He calmed down considerably after moving to the home... but he also became very frail physically.

My grandfather had dementia as well though it wasn't to severe for him or painful for us. He was born and raised in Canada so he was a huge Hockey fan. So most of his delusions were for, lack of a better term, happy. He always just got back from playing hockey or watching hockey or hanging out with the "55" Wings so he wasn't really ever sad or angry

That was a blessing. My auntie went through hell trying to take care of my uncle... she had to sell her house in Las Vegas and move back here so she would have help with him.

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