Nursing Home Resident Killed (Husband Suspected)

Three months ago, the husband of an 86-year-old woman with dementia relectuantly agreed to move her to a nursing home.  Now he is the suspect in her death, as a result of a gun shot wound to the head.  A .38 caliber revolver was in his pocket when officers arrived at the scene.

Roy Chalres Laird, 88, visited his wife, Clara, three time a day.  They had been married for 70 years and moved to the nearby Leisure World retirement center 20 years ago.  As her memory loss made dressing, eating, sitting and walking more difficult, he agreed to move her to a nursing facility with 24-hour care.

The couples daughter, Kathy Palmateer, 68, said it was a mercy killing, as her mind was gone and she could not recognize those around her.

The Los Angeles Times reported that the couple had raised two children and Mr. Laird worked as an General Electric engineer after graduating from UC Santa Barbara.

Neighbors know Mr. Laird as a very sweet man.  He had talked about other men at Leisure World who had killed their ailing wives and then taken their own but had never discussed doing the same.

Country Villa Seal Beach Healthcare has a Caregiverlist Nursing Home Rating of 3-stars and the daily cost of a double room is $171.  The state average cost for a double room at a nursing home accepting Medicare payments is $259.

Seniors who qualify for Medicaid, based on very low incomes, are able to receive, upon approval, long-term nursing home care.  Seniors who are not low income and on Medicare insurance do not receive long-term nursing home care as a benefit of Medicare, but must privately pay for long-term care.  Senior home care costs between $17 - $26 per hour in California and between $180-$350 per day for live-in care (Caregiverlist Senior Home Care Price Survey).