(L.A.) Geraldine Parana, 93, Died in a Hospital

Case Number: 2024-10612

Los Angeles County is reporting the death of a 93-year-old White/Caucasian female that occurred in a hospital.

The coroner’s office has identified the woman as Geraldine Parana.

Manner of Death: Accident

Cause of Death: Subdural Hematoma

RIP GERALDINE PARANA (August 19, 1930 – June 27, 2024)

Formal pronouncement of death was made on Thursday at 4:55 a.m.

A subdural hematoma is a serious condition where blood collects between the skull and the surface of the brain, usually caused by a head injury.

Subdural hematomas can be life-threatening and require immediate medical attention. They occur when blood vessels tear between the brain’s surface and its outer covering (dura), allowing blood to collect and compress brain tissue. Symptoms may include headache, confusion, vomiting, seizures, and loss of consciousness.

Accidental subdural hematomas in the very elderly (typically those over 80 years old) are a serious and increasingly common medical issue.

The elderly, especially those over 80, are particularly susceptible to subdural hematomas due to age-related brain atrophy, which creates more space between the brain and skull, making blood vessels more prone to tearing even with minor trauma.

In the very elderly, subdural hematomas often result from seemingly minor incidents like falls, which are more frequent in this age group. Sometimes, the trauma may be so minor that the patient doesn’t even recall it.