Care Management ~ Eldercare Advocacy ~ Dementia Care

Changes Commonly Experienced in Stage III
Stage III is also known as “end-stage” Alzheimer’s, because it signifies the final years of the disease. At the end of this stage, your parent will pass away. Assistance from a counselor at your local Alzheimer’s organization and hospice, and a physician specializing in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias can help you and your parent enormously during this very difficult time.

Assistance
/_/ My parent needs total assistance with transferring from bed to chair, eating, walking, and every activity of daily living.
/_/ My parent has difficulty swallowing.
/_/ My parent refuses to eat.

Memory
/_/ My parent no longer recognizes himself or family members.

Speech
/_/ My parent rarely or never communicates.

Body and Functions

/_/ My parent sleeps most of the time.
/_/ My parent has had a significant weight loss.
/_/ My parent’s skin bruises or tears easily
/_/ My parent is completely incontinent of bowel and bladder.

One of the results of society’s continuously expanding Alzheimer’s knowledge is that AD is a long-term disease. Patients may survive as long as twenty years from diagnosis to death—meaning you may find yourself in the position of caregiver for two years or two decades. Caring for a loved one with dementia is considered one of the most difficult jobs in the caregiving spectrum. The financial losses, loss of quality of life, and loss of self make it vital to get help.

Ongoing support and caregiver education can help avoid or minimize the effects of depression and loss of quality of life by supplying you with the information you need to understand the illness and make informed decisions.