Gene Hackman R.I.P.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Betsy died first from Hantavirus. She was in the bathroom getting her daily prescription when she was overcome, collapsed and expired.

Gene was in poor health plus Alzheimer's. With Betsy gone, he was not getting his daily meds. Subsequently he too expired several days later as his body couldn't function without the heart medications.

The poor dog in the crate expired from lack of water. It's interesting the two other dogs survived - but what were they eating and drinking? Perhaps there was a natural water source they had access to. If they were running at large, were they roaming throughout the neighborhood? How is it possible nobody thought that was strange? Were they always roaming? I would have to guess Betsy treated them like her babies, and they would not ordinarily be roaming at large.

It's not a suburban street, it's a huge property. The dogs could be roaming for acres and if no one came to the property, no one would know. Dogs left to their own devices can often find food and water.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a caregiver to an absentee parent when I was young, you get over it. It’s all about what a person does ‘right’ in their personal life. Clearly Gene’s kids did not care about him or have a human compassion for the issues that elderly people or immediate caregivers suffer through. I believe they will regret their lack of concern or interest in their father. I’m sure they will reap large inheritances but they have lost integrity and a moral compass in the eyes of his fans and followers of this story. I do not judge the children but just pass along to others, rise above lack of compassion for others no matter what you deal with in life as regrets weigh more on people than just doing what’s right.

+1 so very true

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can't imagine how mortified the family is. Regardless of the reason, having everyone in the country know that my father wandered around his house with severe dementia, unable to get help for more than a week would be so embarrassing. Not to mention how guilty I would feel. I mean, I was present when my dad died, and I still (against all reason) felt guilty.

How is this embarrassing? Extremely sad, yes but hardly embarrassing.

+1 very sad but I imagine stories like this will become more common with an aging population.

No, loving families would not be out of touch for this length of time.

You're assuming he could talk on the phone. My grandmother, when she had dementia, progressed to the point where she really could not. But before that, she could but didn't want to. And none of the grandkids - all of whom lived out of state - realized the full extent until we visited. My grandfather concealed it. He didn't want his kids and grandkids to worry. So when we called he'd say she was in the shower, or napping, or visiting with friends. All very plausible. Then we get there for a visit and she's thrilled to see us and we gradually realize she has no idea who we actually are. And that was a good year before she actually died. At that one year before mark, my parents and aunts/uncles stepped in to help, but they had to override my grandfather in order to do it. He really didn't want help even though he needed it and she needed it.

PP here. i get it, but that's why frequent contact by someone (relative, caregiver, social worker) is needed. What if someone were mentally ill?paraplegic? Low cognitive functioning? Cancer in advanced stages? You don't just leave them to whatever...

[Anonymous]

Based on neighbors and those in SF, the news reports are saying they pretty much became hermits after COVID.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where was she that she was inhaling rodent union and droppings to contract hantavirus?

It happens all the time in the South West. Totally clean house, and you can't detect there are rodents in your walls and ceiling. They poop and pee and you breathe in Hanta.

So why didn't Gene die of it too?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They seemed like very private people. Betsy appeared to be a devoted caregiver but maybe at the expense of her own health. It is unfortunate that they did not have more of a network to check on them regularly. Perhaps the children really didn't have a close relationship with him despite their own claims. Not being aware of their father having Alzheimer's and not calling for months sounds distant.

Betsy was probably in pretty good health. Hantavirus symptoms can hit suddenly and it can kill people who are young and in good health. In fact, because it requires you to come in contact with infected rodents or their droppings, it hits a lot of people who are doing things like outdoor activities, working in sheds or the yard, that kind of thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Exhibit A for why having kids is so, sooooooop overrated

So many people think their kids are gonna give a crap about them when they get old and are on their death bed.

So many examples of where it isn't true. Or your kids turn into massive jerk offs

Maybe they did not want help from his kids. Maybe the kids did not know or not close enough with a step mom. His kids must be the same age as his wife or older.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where was she that she was inhaling rodent union and droppings to contract hantavirus?

It happens all the time in the South West. Totally clean house, and you can't detect there are rodents in your walls and ceiling. They poop and pee and you breathe in Hanta.

So why didn't Gene die of it too?

Do you not understand how contagious diseases work?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where was she that she was inhaling rodent union and droppings to contract hantavirus?

It happens all the time in the South West. Totally clean house, and you can't detect there are rodents in your walls and ceiling. They poop and pee and you breathe in Hanta.

So why didn't Gene die of it too?

Because it is not contagious between humans. My guess is Gene, because of his health, was not doing things where you have the most risk of contact, like sweeping a shed or basement, taking out garbage, that kind of thing. Betsy probably did those things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Shame on the kids. The father was 95 and and not mentally there. If they had constant contact (a freaking phone call!) then they would know that mom is sick and someone needs to come and help with dad until she is well. They were left to rot in their home. America sucks. How we treat our own family is disgusting. The human race sucks.

Elderly can be stubborn. If they have money, it is even harder to deal with. Maybe the neighbors and kids don't want to disturb them or appear to be too interested in them(or their money/fame...) if they are standoffish.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can't imagine how mortified the family is. Regardless of the reason, having everyone in the country know that my father wandered around his house with severe dementia, unable to get help for more than a week would be so embarrassing. Not to mention how guilty I would feel. I mean, I was present when my dad died, and I still (against all reason) felt guilty.

How is this embarrassing? Extremely sad, yes but hardly embarrassing.

+1 very sad but I imagine stories like this will become more common with an aging population.

No, loving families would not be out of touch for this length of time.

You're assuming he could talk on the phone. My grandmother, when she had dementia, progressed to the point where she really could not. But before that, she could but didn't want to. And none of the grandkids - all of whom lived out of state - realized the full extent until we visited. My grandfather concealed it. He didn't want his kids and grandkids to worry. So when we called he'd say she was in the shower, or napping, or visiting with friends. All very plausible. Then we get there for a visit and she's thrilled to see us and we gradually realize she has no idea who we actually are. And that was a good year before she actually died. At that one year before mark, my parents and aunts/uncles stepped in to help, but they had to override my grandfather in order to do it. He really didn't want help even though he needed it and she needed it.

PP here. i get it, but that's why frequent contact by someone (relative, caregiver, social worker) is needed. What if someone were mentally ill?paraplegic? Low cognitive functioning? Cancer in advanced stages? You don't just leave them to whatever...

Betsy was in good health.

I mean, what happened was an extremely unlikely scenario. The likelihood of a 60 something caregiver in good health getting a fairly rare virus and dying suddenly before her 95 year old spouse with Alzheimers and advanced heart disease was highly unlikely.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where was she that she was inhaling rodent union and droppings to contract hantavirus?

It happens all the time in the South West. Totally clean house, and you can't detect there are rodents in your walls and ceiling. They poop and pee and you breathe in Hanta.

So why didn't Gene die of it too?

Do you not understand how contagious diseases work?

I think the point is that if Betsy was allegedly exposed to mouse droppings (behind the walls, for example) wouldn't Gene also have been exposed?

[Anonymous]

They clearly wanted to live alone without any help, and they paid the price. What a sad story.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They seemed like very private people. Betsy appeared to be a devoted caregiver but maybe at the expense of her own health. It is unfortunate that they did not have more of a network to check on them regularly. Perhaps the children really didn't have a close relationship with him despite their own claims. Not being aware of their father having Alzheimer's and not calling for months sounds distant.

Betsy was probably in pretty good health. Hantavirus symptoms can hit suddenly and it can kill people who are young and in good health. In fact, because it requires you to come in contact with infected rodents or their droppings, it hits a lot of people who are doing things like outdoor activities, working in sheds or the yard, that kind of thing.

It's harder to get it outside, but definitely risky to do things like cleaning up a shed or garage or storage space where you can breathe in particles and lots of mouse droppings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where was she that she was inhaling rodent union and droppings to contract hantavirus?

It happens all the time in the South West. Totally clean house, and you can't detect there are rodents in your walls and ceiling. They poop and pee and you breathe in Hanta.

So why didn't Gene die of it too?

Do you not understand how contagious diseases work?

I think the point is that if Betsy was allegedly exposed to mouse droppings (behind the walls, for example) wouldn't Gene also have been exposed?

Exposure usually doesn't just happen if you're passively sitting in a clean house with rodents in the attic. What happens is someone is doing something around the house where they disturb rodent droppings or urine and the particles are breathed in.

Gene was sick and old, so unlikely he would be doing things like sweeping out the garage or shed, taking out garbage, or getting wood from a woodpile, for example.