Senior Living
2009-02-01 14:22:00
What happens in late stage of Alzheimer’s?
Question: What can you expect to happen as a person enters the late state of Alzheimer’s Disease?
Answer: Late stage Alzheimer’s Disease can last anywhere from 1 to 3 years. In the late stage giving care is mostly about meeting the needs that your loved one can no longer do for themselves. This is where their brain will cause them to
not know who you are or who they are. They won’t be able to eat without help, control their bowels or bladder and walk or sit without the aid of someone. This will be the time to make hard choices about the care of your loved one. Care giving will become a 24-hour a day job if you decide to keep them at home. Programs from your local Area Agency on Aging, home health agencies or private nursing assistants will be critical to the well being of both your loved one and yourself. Many caregivers make the choice to move their loved ones into a nursing home in this stage. Often there
are multiple chronic illnesses that are best cared for by trained personnel.
More importantly, this will allow you to spend what time is left letting them know how much they are loved. Please keep in mind that if this is your choice, it doesn’t mean you have failed.
If you chose to keep your loved one at home you will need to learn some new skills. As time passes they won’t be able to eat or drink without the possibility of choking. You will need to make a choice about whether to use a feeding tube or not. Here are some things to know before you decide. They will not feel hunger or thirst as they approach death. Lack of food and fluids can reduce pain. A feeding tube may not prevent weight loss and may make them more uncomfortable.
Hopefully this is something you have already talked about in the early stage. Communication will also be different. You will need to learn how to tell what they need by looking at them as their communication will be limited to grunts and moans. The muscles in their face no longer work. They have
little or no control over their bodies and will fall over if not propped up. Muscles that bend their arms and legs will no longer work and often they will lay in the fetal positions when in bed. Joints will stiffen and eventually they will forget how to sit up. Their skin will change and lose its ability to stretch.
The skin will bruise and tear easily. Sores may appear on their elbows, hips, heels and bottom. Keeping their mouth clean and lips moist becomes very important. Weight loss will happen because their body can no longer get the nourishment it needs from the food they eat. Right now you may feel too tired to think about what you need. However, your years of care giving are coming to an end. This is a sad time and you will grieve as death slowly approaches. Take comfort in your family and friends. Finally, be proud of the job you have done as a caregiver! To obtain a free copy of “Coach Broyles’ Playbook for the Alzheimer’s Caregiver” call the Alzheimer’s Association at 800-272-3990.
