What Are the Final Stages of Alzheimer's Before Death

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive, degenerative brain disease with marked effects on memory and cognitive abilities. With the advancement of the disease, this results in extreme deterioration, including both physical and mental, and ultimately death. Knowing what the final stages of Alzheimer's are will enable the caregiving family or friends to prepare for both the emotional as well as practical challenges associated with the final stages of the disease.

In the article that follows, we'll be discussing, in detail, symptoms, changes, and concerns regarding the end stages of Alzheimer's, making it possible for those families who have been unfortunate to get at least a glimpse of what awaits them when in the final stages of Alzheimer's.

What to Expect in the Final Stages of Alzheimer's

The last stages of Alzheimer's have a severe decline in cognitive functions, being unable to perform everyday functions, and the body shutting down.

At this stage, patients should probably be placed under intensive-time care in a professional facility like an Alzheimer's memory center where caregivers are trained to manage the complexities of advanced dementia.

Severe Cognitive Decline

By the final stages of Alzheimer's, most people suffer from complete cognitive impairment. This means that:

• Inability to Communicate: Overall inability of patients to engage in meaningful conversations and to talk only few words or nothing at all. This comes with a considerable decrease in verbal communication, and they may not even recognize their loved ones or known faces.

• Memory Loss: The final steps of Alzheimer's cause extreme memory loss. The patient fails to recall large events of life or even what a person's name, identity, or where one is.

• Absolute Disorientation: Time and space sense is completely destroyed. Patients at this stage are often unaware of day or hour. Confusion and agitation tend to become extreme in this final state.

Decline in Body Function

In the final stages of Alzheimer's, patients can be catastrophic, not only in terms of declining mental abilities but also in contrast to physical impairments. They include conditions such as

• Loss of mobility: Patients in this last stage normally cannot move about without help from another person. Ultimately, they will end up bedridden.
• Incontinence: Loss of Bowel and Bladder Control- They often become incontinent and require diapers or other supportive care. This is not only frustrating for the patients but for the caregivers, too.

• Dysphagia: Difficulty Swallowing- In most cases of advanced Alzheimer's, the most distinctive symptom is dysphagia, or difficulty swallowing. This makes it nearly impossible to take food or liquids, placing a high risk for starvation, dehydration, and aspiration pneumonia that could be fatal in some instances.

Increasing Vulnerability to Infections

Patients with late-stage Alzheimer's become more susceptible to infections as the body becomes frail and the immune system less responsive. These infections are mostly fatal, where pneumonia tops the causes of death among individuals who have severe dementia. Poor mobility confines most patients unable to cough well and is later followed by liquids in the lungs, which subsequently causes major problems in their respiratory condition.

Incomplete Ability to Express Pain

Another significant difficulty when the Alzheimer's disease is in its final stages is that patients cannot convey pain or discomfort. Caregivers and medical staff need to be very alert to subtle non-verbal cues like contorted facial expressions, behavioral changes, or agitation that can suggest pain or distress.

Care Needs During the Final Stages of Alzheimer's

The terminal stages of Alzheimer's call for their users to undergo intense care that is highly emotionally and physically straining. To this end, most families have opted for professional help at an Alzheimer's memory center, where there are professionals available to offer care. Features of end-stage care include:

• Comfort Care: The focus is made on comfort rather than treatment. It depends on ensuring the patient is comfortably made, the amount of pain reduced, and the patient does not suffer unnecessarily. In most cases, it is when at this stage that the patient's treatment process is introduced with palliative care to reduce all symptoms to a manageable intensity.

• Nutritional Support: The late stage of Alzheimer's is accompanied by dysphagia in most patients. Therefore, nutritional status has become a challenge. Patients may require modified diets and even tube feedings; however, decisions that institute aggressive feeding measures can be made with regard to the patient's quality of life.

• Skin Care: All bedbound patients are at risk for developing bed sores, or pressure ulcers. How often repositioned, proper bedding, and hygiene break the skin.

• Emotional and Spiritual Support: The day of hospitalization may be overwhelming for both the patients and their families. Emotional and spiritual care can be provided through counseling therapy or religious services.

How Long Do the Final Stages of Alzheimer's Last?

The final stages of Alzheimer's are quite diverse among individuals. While some patients deteriorate rapidly within weeks or months, many others have survived for years provided they had proper care. Indeed, it usually takes a survivor an average of 1 to 3 years before they succumb in late-stage Alzheimer's.

Decisions near the end of life in Alzheimer's care

During the final stages of Alzheimer's, aggressive decisions regarding treatment and care will necessarily confront themselves. These include:

• Do Not Resuscitate Orders: Do DNR orders apply? Meaning, they do not wish to be revived if they are to experience a cardiac arrest. Such a decision should be done in coordination with the healthcare providers, always keeping the patient's wishes and quality of life in mind.

• Hospice Care: For patients with Alzheimer's disease at an end stage, doctors often recommend hospice care. Hospice care centers around the comfort of the patient instead of curative treatment for their diseases. The settings for hospice can be the home, in a memory care center, or in a hospice facility. This would depend upon the needs and preference of the patient.

Role of Alzheimer's Memory Center

For many families, admission to one particular Alzheimer's memory center can be the place of peace for their loved one. The facilities are well equipped to handle the specific challenges that advance dementia creates, and thus they offer complete care around the clock; they keep the patient safe and help out family members in an emotional time.

Services offered by memory centers

• Medical Monitoring: Continuous assessment of the condition of the patient and management of symptoms, such as pain treatment.

• Each patient's customized care plan is centered around his or her unique cognitive and physical abilities.

• Family Support Counseling and resources for families are often offered by memory care centers to help them learn about the disease process, which helps them navigate potential transitions into end-of-life care.

Conclusion

The final stage is characterized by more pronounced physical and cognitive decline. This approach serves to help alleviate the emotional and physical load on all parties involved by knowing what to anticipate and how best to administer care. The services now needed are fulltime care and support, that is preferably provided in a dedicated Alzheimer's memory center or hospice care setting. This travel is never easy, but the right care in place can give a level of peace and comfort in the final moments of life.