SOUTH KINGSTOWN — Beatrice S. Demers, who spent her life teaching foreign languages, first to students in the Pawtucket public schools, then for 30 years at the University of Rhode Island, died yesterday at her home in South Kingstown in the company of paid caregivers, according to her cousins Estelle Dursin and Brian Murphy.

She was 100.

Demers had been failing for several months, Dursin said. She was diagnosed with dementia several years ago and had had round-the-clock caregivers after years of living alone in squalid conditions with a raft of cats and a couple of dogs.

Demers was the subject of a front-page Sunday Journal story in January 2006 about her care and the handling of her finances.

In 2005, the attorney general’s Elder Abuse Unit began a criminal investigation into whether anyone had physically abused, mistreated or financially exploited Demers. Prosecutor Roger S. Demers — no relation to Beatrice Demers — told South Kingstown Probate Judge Stephen R. White that he was looking into allegations of misconduct by two former guardians and a neighbor who was a part-time caregiver.

To date, no charges have been filed against anyone in the case.

— Tracy Breton