A 91-year-old care home resident died of Legionnaires' disease, an inquest has heard.
Rhoda Freedman had been living at Wensley House in Epping, Essex, for a year, until she was blue-lighted to Princess Alexandra Hospital on 13 May 2024.
During the first day of the inquest at Seax House in Chelmsford, the jury heard that Freedman arrived at the hospital confused, agitated and clinically dehydrated.
Michelle Brown, area coroner for Essex, said: "You have my personal sympathies as a family."
Freedman died five days later, on the evening of 18 May.
Anna Rycroft, an autopsy pathologist, said her post-mortem examination showed a provisional cause of death was bronchopneumonia caused by legionella.
The court heard Freedman was deaf and a wheelchair user, but was an avid reader and enjoyed watching shows like ITV's The Chase in order to keep her general knowledge sharp.
She first moved into the care home after a fall but had frequent visits from her family.
Legionnaires' disease is a lung infection most commonly contracted through the inhalation of water droplets containing legionella bacterium.
Symptoms include shortness of breath, a high temperature and chest pain or discomfort. The disease can induce pneumonia and other respiratory illnesses, which can be life-threatening.
The inquest continues.
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