Dementia is not always recognised as a terminal illness or the actual cause of death, often because there may also be other health problems, such as cancer or heart disease, which may be the main health concern. Dementia is, however, a terminal illness.
With dementia, a person's body may continue to be physically healthy. However, dementia causes the gradual loss of thinking, remembering, and reasoning abilities, which means that people with dementia at the end of life may no longer be able to make or communicate choices about their health care.
Many people think of dementia as a memory problem, and therefore something that a person can live with indefinitely. In fact dementia is a degenerative disease that eventually stops brain function, just like heart failure or lung disease.
Dementia is ultimately a terminal condition. Alzheimer's disease, the most common dementia etiology, is the 6th leading cause of death in the United States and is one of the few leading causes of death where the age-adjusted death rate is increasing (Figure 1).
Palliative care is for anyone diagnosed with a life-limiting condition, including dementia. It focuses on making a person's quality of life as good as possible by relieving discomfort or distress.
The average life expectancy figures for the most common types of dementia are as follows: Alzheimer's disease – around eight to 10 years. Life expectancy is less if the person is diagnosed in their 80s or 90s. A few people with Alzheimer's live for longer, sometimes for 15 or even 20 years.
Dementia is progressive. This means signs and symptoms may be relatively mild at first but they get worse with time. Dementia affects everyone differently, however it can be helpful to think of dementia progressing in 'three stages'.
Although family members are not directly responsible for what is written on an official death certificate, they can encourage their doctor to include dementia as a cause of death. This is an especially critical role if the doctor making the determination is not aware of the person's dementia diagnosis.
Is dementia a terminal illness? Dementia is not always recognised as a terminal illness or the actual cause of death, often because there may also be other health problems, such as cancer or heart disease, which may be the main health concern.
I'm going to discuss five of the most basic ones here: 1) Don't tell them they are wrong about something, 2) Don't argue with them, 3) Don't ask if they remember something, 4) Don't remind them that their spouse, parent or other loved one is dead, and 5) Don't bring up topics that may upset them.
It is quite common for a person with dementia, especially in the later stages, to spend a lot of their time sleeping – both during the day and night. This can sometimes be distressing for the person's family and friends, as they may worry that something is wrong.
Administration: The examiner reads a list of 5 words at a rate of one per second, giving the following instructions: “This is a memory test. I am going to read a list of words that you will have to remember now and later on. Listen carefully. When I am through, tell me as many words as you can remember.
Alzheimer's disease.
Alzheimer's disease patients have plaques and tangles in their brains.
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease causes a type of dementia that gets worse unusually fast. More common causes of dementia, such as Alzheimer's, dementia with Lewy bodies and frontotemporal dementia, typically progress more slowly. Through a process scientists don't yet understand, misfolded prion protein destroys brain cells.
Receiving a life-changing dementia diagnosis doesn't strip a person of their humanity or personhood. People with dementia think about the same things that any human thinks about — emotions, relationships, daily life, tasks to accomplish, and more.
Pain is one of the most common symptoms that people with dementia experience. However, often it is poorly recognised and undertreated in dementia. The main reason for this is that, as dementia progresses, the person's ability to communicate their needs becomes more difficult.
The Mini-Cog test.
A third test, known as the Mini-Cog, takes 2 to 4 minutes to administer and involves asking patients to recall three words after drawing a picture of a clock. If a patient shows no difficulties recalling the words, it is inferred that he or she does not have dementia.
Conservator: A person appointed by the court to make decisions on behalf of the person living with dementia; referred to as the guardian in some states. Custody: Legal responsibility for a person.
One of the most common causes of death for people with dementia is pneumonia caused by an infection. A person in the later stages of dementia may have symptoms that suggest that they are close to death, but can sometimes live with these symptoms for many months.
Sudden changes in awareness, thinking, mobility, or personality could be due to delirium, stroke, or simply a change in routine that has caused distress. Because some of these potential causes require immediate treatment, it is important to consult a doctor if a person's dementia symptoms suddenly get worse.
If you aren't sure which stage of dementia you or your loved one are in right now, take an online Alzheimer's test. This can help pinpoint an individual's symptoms and stage.
Research shows that with the right supports, people with dementia can live at home longer and with higher quality of life compared to those living at home without coordinated support, and that this support may be most impactful when introduced early.
Often when a person with dementia asks to go home it refers to the sense of 'home' rather than home itself. 'Home' may represent memories of a time or place that was comfortable and secure and where they felt relaxed and happier. It could also be an indefinable place that may not physically exist.