Because Alzheimer's is a slowly progressing disease, life doesn't stop the day of a diagnosis. It's a very gradual goodbye.
The fact is, Alzheimer's is an irreversible disease and, unacceptably, has no known cure. It slowly steals the victim's mind, leaving a long trail of broken-down, worn-out family members and caregivers behind.
As Alzheimer's progresses, your loved one may start to behave differently. They may feel sad and cry more often. Crying about little things is common in certain types of dementia because those little things affect areas of the brain that control emotions.
In the final stage of the disease, dementia symptoms are severe. Individuals lose the ability to respond to their environment, to carry on a conversation and, eventually, to control movement. They may still say words or phrases, but communicating pain becomes difficult.
The protracted period from diagnosis to death from Alzheimer's disease has been called “the long goodbye,” and for good reason.
Most of the lyrics from Bruce Springsteen's Human Touch song “The Long Goodbye” could apply to any situation where someone knows he or she should leave something— a relationship, or a place or a job — but is having prolonged trouble doing so.
The later stage of dementia tends to be the shortest. On average it lasts about one to two years.
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.
Signs of the final stages of dementia include some of the following: Being unable to move around on one's own. Being unable to speak or make oneself understood. Eating problems such as difficulty swallowing.
It may seem that the person is being starved or dehydrated to death, but they are not. In the end stages of dementia (in the last few months or weeks of life), the person's food and fluid intake tends to decrease slowly over time. The body adjusts to this slowing down process and the reduced intake.
"Frequent visits and social interactions, exercise, music, dance, jokes, and serving patients their favorite foods are all simple things that can have a lasting emotional impact on a patient's quality of life and subjective well-being."
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.
People with dementia can still have nice feelings too. They can feel happy, safe and calm. Some people with dementia may seem like their usual self a lot of the time and you may only notice small changes every now and then. Some people with dementia may not have as many good days.
Terminal lucidity is not an official medical term, but it refers to people with dementia unexpectedly returning to a clear mental state shortly before death. Experts do not know exactly why a person may experience this lucidity, and more research on the neurological mechanisms involved is necessary.
People with dementia who ask questions repeatedly may be trying to express a specific concern, ask for help, or cope with frustration, anxiety or insecurity. Because people with Alzheimer's gradually lose the ability to communicate, it's important to regularly monitor their comfort and anticipate their needs.
Hearing can be the last sense that a person loses at death. This shows that you care and shows respect. If family are at their loved one's bedside, stay with the person when the relative has a break, and again hold the person's hand. The care team would need to plan how you can provide this kind of one-to-one support.
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.
In stage 6 of dementia, a person may start forgetting the names of close loved ones and have little memory of recent events.
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.
The main sign of mild cognitive impairment is a slight decline in mental abilities. Examples include: Memory loss: You may forget recent events or repeat the same questions and stories. You may occasionally forget the names of friends and family members or forget appointments or planned events.
The clock-drawing test is a quick way to screen for early dementia, including Alzheimer's disease. It involves drawing a clock on a piece of paper with numbers, clock hands, and a specific time. The inability to do so is a strong indication of mental decline.
The Mini-Mental State Exam is a 30-point test used to measure your loved ones thinking ability, also known as their cognitive impairment. If you suspect that you or a loved one might be developing Alzheimer's disease or another dementia, the Mini-Mental State Exam is a step toward making a diagnosis.
People live for an average of 8 years after their symptoms appear. But the disease can progress quickly in some people and slowly in others. Some people live as long as 20 years with the disease. No one knows what causes Alzheimer disease.
In the late stage of Alzheimer's, the person typically becomes unable to walk. This inability to move around can cause skin breakdown (pressure sores) and joint “freezing.”
Dementia stage 5: Moderately severe cognitive decline
At this point, a person may no longer be able to carry out normal activities of daily living (ADLs), such as dressing or bathing, or Instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) without some caregiver assistance.