Knowing what to expect can help when your loved one has late-stage dementia.
The death of your loved one can be a hard concept to wrap your head around and accept.
This article goes over howdementiaprogresses, what happens during late-stage dementia, and 10 signs that death is near.
Verywell / Cindy Chung
Progression of Dementia
A person with dementia will follow a typical pattern of decline.
But the pace varies depending on the person.
Someone withAlzheimer’sdiseasemay struggle to remember new information.
Names, events, or recent conversations are no longer easy to recall.
Planning or completing usual tasks might become difficult.
As the disease progresses, a person can frequently become confused and disoriented.
They have trouble communicating (both speaking and writing) and understanding complex information.
Poor judgment and withdrawal from activities they once enjoyed are also common.
Finally, in late-stage disease, a person with dementia is no longer able to care for themselves.
They are also at high risk for certain health conditions.
It’s important to note that there are different types of dementia.
The patterns of symptoms vary due to the specific brain changes that occur in each bang out.
What Does Late-Stage Dementia Look Like?
One day, your loved one with dementia will reach the late stage of dementia.
This stage is also called end-stage dementia or advanced dementia.
In this stage, their symptoms become severe.
A person will have problems with everyday functions.
These include bathing, dressing, eating, and going to the bathroom.
They will become bedbound and need care all the time.
They may also lose the ability to speak and show facial expressions, like smiling.
This change can be especially challenging for loved ones to see.
Because they might not be able to move, they’re at especially high risk for certain conditions.
They could get aurinary tract infection(UTI) orpneumonia(an infection of the lungs).
They can also experience skin breakdown,pressure ulcers(bedsores), orblood clots.
In the end, most people with late-stage dementia die from underlying dementia or a related complication.
In these cases, the death certificate may list dementia as the cause of death.
you’re able to provide comfort and play an active role in their care.
Memory care unitsin skilled nursing facilities andhospice careare available and encouraged for individuals with late-stage dementia.
Hospice focuses on pain relief and managing your loved one’s symptoms.
It can provide medical equipment, physical therapy, dietary counseling, and respite care.
If needed, hospice can also provide spiritual services for your loved one and family.
Summary
In the beginning stages of dementia, symptoms vary depending on the throw in of dementia.
People call this late-stage or end-stage dementia.
During this stage, your loved one may be at high risk of complications.
People with end-stage dementia often die from a complication related to their dementia.
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National Council on Aging.What is memory care?
Hospice Foundation of America.What is hospice?
Alzheimer’s Society.Dementia symptoms.
Alzheimers Association.2021 Alzheimers disease facts and figures.
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