Final Stages of Alzheimer's Diseaseby Aimee Amodio | More from this Blogger 16 Mar 2008 01:14 PM The final stages of Alzheimer's disease can be the most challenging for friends and family of a person with the disease. If you need to, take a look back at the early stages of Alzheimer's disease and the advanced stages of Alzheimer's disease. Stage 6 is known as "moderately severe" or "mid-stage" Alzheimer's disease. In this stage, cognitive decline is severe. A person at this stage may experience:
In this stage, the person may wander and become lost. People in stage five need extensive help with daily activities -- your doctor may suggest that the person not be left alone. I think this is the stage my grandmother is approaching -- if she isn't there yet. The personality changes and sleep problems have been going on for a long time. Most upsetting is that for a few minutes the other day, she didn't recognize my mother (her daughter). Stage 7 is the final stage of Alzheimer's disease, known as "severe" or "late stage". This is the most severe cognitive decline, and symptoms can include:
In this stage, a person will need help with eating, washing, and using the bathroom. People in stage 7 will lose the ability to respond to their environment and ultimately will not be able to speak or control movement. Learn more about Aimee Amodio  Aimee is a fiction writer... dog lover... music lover... Relevanthealth tags User Comments MotheringMother (10) 17 Mar 2008 08:24 PMI've found that somewhere between stage 6 and 7 families oftentimes need to place their loved ones into a facility. They feel like they failed, but they're exhausted beyond belief. Stress has even taken a toll on their marriages, family life, and even their health. I took care of my mom until the end. She passed away in our home. If it weren't for my family and the community, church, and hospice support, I never could have done this. Still, it took its toll. I was a relatively young sandwich generationer--just turned 40, and my health and family rebounded. What's the right thing to do? Whatever is right for you and your family. Let go of guilt. Do the best you can. I can only believe that if our loved one were in their right minds, and in a place of peace, that they would know they were loved and that we caregivers and families did the best we could. I found I could give mercy to everyone but myself, and in the end, I learned just to let go and love. ~Carol D. O'Dell Author of Mothering Mother: A Daughter's Humorous and Heartbreaking Memoir available on Amazon www.mothering-mother.com Community Tags alzheimer's, alzheimer's disease, advanced alzheimer's disease, final stages of alzheimer's dise, stages of alzheimer's disease Discuss this article
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