Stage : Moderate Cognitive Decline
This point in the progression is considered mild or early-stage AD and by now there are definite symptoms of the condition that a careful medical examination can detect. This includes an obvious decrease in knowledge of recent events, both personal and concerning the local community/world. A persons capacity to engage in everyday planning and organizational activities such as balancing a checkbook or planning a dinner for a group of people would also be affected.
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Again, remember that it is important to have a baseline performance score on these mental state tests for reference. Knowing how well a person performed similar tasks at an earlier time will help with ongoing comparisons and the detection of worsening symptoms. Some people have always struggled with math and numbers or never exhibited high levels of reading comprehension, but that doesnt mean dementia is present. The important thing to look for is uncharacteristic changes in memory and abilities.
How You Can Help A Person With Dementia Who Is Hiding Hoarding Or Losing Things
- Try to keep items in places where the person is used to them being for example, hanging keys on a specific hook or always keeping them in the same drawer.
- Consider getting copies of items that are important or often misplaced, such as keys, glasses or important documents.
- Keep rooms and drawers tidy so that things are less likely to get lost and easier to find if they are misplaced. Put items that are often used where they can be seen and are easily accessible.
- Consider getting a tray marked letters or post to make sure that these do not get misplaced. This can also allow you to double-check important items such as GP appointment letters or test results, as long as the person consents to this.
- Use visual clues to explain where items go, such as pictures or photos stuck to cupboard doors as reminders of what goes inside them.
- Consider a locator device to help find items that often get lost, such as keys. For more information on these see Using technology to help with everyday life.
- When looking for a lost item, use your knowledge of the person to help you think where they might have put things.
- If the person puts items in unusual places but this doesnt pose a risk to anyone in the household, it may be best to leave things as they are.
Assistive technology to help with losing thingsAssistive technology to help with losing things .
Sundowning And Care At Home
Alzheimers and dementia can be difficult conditions to live with, not just for your loved one but also for the extended family. Thats why more and more people are turning to live-in carers to help with loved ones who are in the late stages of dementia.
Employing a highly experienced and compassionate caregiver can be a relief to families who are struggling to cope with the demands of the disease, and the peace and calm that a skilled carer can bring to a household are beneficial for everyone.
Live-in carers can provide a range of dementia care services, from simple companion care to the specific demands of dementia. They remain calm under pressure and can cope with emergency situations, making them a great option for families who are concerned about residential care for their loved ones.
They can provide genuine support throughout the day and night, which can make a significant difference for families who are finding things challenging.
Even if you think that you are coping well with your loved one, a period of live-in respite care can be helpful for anyone dealing with the particular demands of sundowning, allowing you to return from a short break or holiday refreshed and ready to face the challenges ahead.
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How Can Loved Ones Help
During middle-stage dementia, you might feel alone and helpless at times, not knowing what you can do to help, but here are some things you can do to help.
- Remind- While your loved one might have trouble remembering various tasks and memories, help them with gentle cues and reminders. Remind them of names, events, and tasks that might seem difficult to them.
- Keep life Simple- Simplify things a little bit more for your loved ones. Find clothing that is easy to put on, speak a little slower, and follow a simple routine.
- Avoid Arguing- While life might be hard, try to avoid arguing with your loved one living with dementia. Do not tell them what they believe is false or inaccurate.
- Recall the Past- Helping your loved one recall the past can prove to be a huge comfort to your loved one. When those living with dementia lose their memory, it is their short-term memory that is lost first. They may still recall things that happened many years ago. Focus on sharing those past memories with each other.
If you or a loved one is suffering from middle-stage dementia is important to build a support system that includes great occupational therapists, doctors, and caregivers.
References
Stage : Moderately Severe Dementia
When the patient begins to forget the names of their children, spouse, or primary caregivers, they are most likely entering stage 6 of dementia and will need full time care. In the sixth stage, patients are generally unaware of their surroundings, cannot recall recent events, and have skewed memories of their personal past. Caregivers and loved ones should watch for:
- Delusional behavior
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Stage : Overnight Care
At this point, people who have been living alone but with daytime caregiving who do not have anosognosia will begin turning to caregivers, friends, and family members and say, Would you like to move in with me or stay over? Wanting to have someone with them overnight does not imply that they need full-time care. People at this level still enjoy the autonomy of being able to spend a few hours alone, but not much longer than that.
At DAWN, weve found that if resources allow, it works well to immediately provide a caregiver who is present from dinnertime through breakfast, full-time on weekends, and off-duty during business hours. We have found this works very well as a part-time job for students studying nursing or social work. During the day, we arrange midday activities that provide the client with sensory and social stimulation but allow our clients an hour or two each morning and afternoon to be spent alone. This helps them preserve a sense of autonomy and privacy within their own homes for a little longer.
Give Them A Special Drawer
Give your loved one a place like a box or drawer where they can put all of their special items. This accomplishes a few things: first, it may give them a sense of security to have a place where their things will be kept safe. Second, it can narrow down the places to search if your keys go missing. Additionally, people with dementia often like to rummage, and having a special drawer will give them something they can look through should they wish to do so.
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Stage : Inability To Speak Walk Or Do Basic Functions
The final stage of dementia is where there is very severe cognitive decline to the point of requiring 24-hour care. Your loved one may be non-verbal at this stage and not be able to do much on their own. Hospice care can be an option at this stage, but you may still be able to visit with them and communicate with them, making them comfortable as much as possible. Symptoms in this stage include:
- Inability to eat or speak
- Inability to walk or get around without assistance
- Loss of bladder and bowel control
- May not recognize family members
- Severe disorientation
- Loss of muscle control
Late-stage dementia is difficult for everyone and can mean someone is in the final stages of life. Luckily there are endless sources for patients, loved ones, and caregivers to tackle this difficult time.
The Seven Stages Of Dementia
One of the most difficult things to hear about dementia is that, in most cases, dementia is irreversible and incurable. However, with an early diagnosis and proper care, the progression of some forms of dementia can be managed and slowed down. The cognitive decline that accompanies dementia conditions does not happen all at once – the progression of dementia can be divided into seven distinct, identifiable stages.
Learning about the stages of dementia can help with identifying signs and symptoms early on, as well as assisting sufferers and caretakers in knowing what to expect in further stages. The earlier dementia is diagnosed, the sooner treatment can start.
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Does Sundowning Get Worse When The Clocks Change
Many of us will naturally experience tiredness when the clocks change. However, for those with sundowning symptoms, Daylight Savings can be an intensely confusing and anxious time. Sundowning symptoms will often be more pronounced in the days and weeks following the clocks going back, so here are a few additional steps you can take to help them through seasonal changes.
- Try not to introduce anything new to their routine the week leading up to and after the time change. Sticking to the same scheduled activities and tasks will provide stability and safety. If you do need to shift their routine forward by an hour, do so in small increments over 7 to 10 days.
- During the day, take your loved one outside for a walk or to spend some time in the garden. Natural sunlight helps to regulate their body clock.
- Turn on lights and close curtains and blinds before it starts to get dark. Seeing the sky change from day to night when theyre not expecting it can be triggering. Likewise, if light is coming into the bedroom too early and waking your loved one, invest in some blackout curtains.
Are Early Signs Of Dementia Obvious
Changes in a person in the early stages of dementia can be so gradual they can often be mistaken for normal ageing. Because dementia affects people in different ways, symptoms may not always be obvious. In fact, failure to recognise early signs often leads to people not being diagnosed for several years.
So what to look for? Perhaps someone you care for is struggling to remember what they did yesterday and forgets the names of friends or everyday objects. They may have difficulty following conversations or TV programmes, repeat things over and over, or have problems thinking or reasoning. They may feel angry, anxious or depressed about memory loss or feel confused even in a familiar environment.
The healthtalk website presents a range of carers experiences of identifying the early signs of dementia. One carer put it this way.
The first stage is not recognisable I think, or certainly wasnt recognisable as far as I was concerned initially . I was certainly not understanding… the fact that my wife was at the beginning of a serious problem, a serious mental health problem. Because I was with my wife continuously, I think I was less likely to recognise some of the changes that were taking place than people who saw her less regularly.
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First Dementia Stage: No Impairment
It is not easy to tell whether a person has dementia during its initial stage. There are usually no signs and symptoms to show that the disease is present. Professionals refer to this as a normal functioning stage. A medical expert can confirm the lack of symptoms by testing language, problem solving, and memory. People who do not have dementia but are at risk of getting the condition can also be classified into this category. Since a person cannot spot any symptoms at this point, it is recommended that one undergo a PET scan, which will reveal how the brain is functioning to know if one has Alzheimers. The symptoms become more apparent during the later stages of the illness.
Stages Of Dementia: When To Transition To Memory Care
Dementia is not something that just appears one day. It can take weeks, months, or years to progress into a form of dementia that requires memory care. Dementia is also misconstrued as a singular disease, but its actually a grouping of symptoms that can drastically affect brain function. Everything from making decisions to performing daily tasks becomes difficult as dementia advances, and most commonly, memory loss is a tell-tale symptom.
Getting ahead of dementia symptoms can ensure easy transitions from memory care to hospice care and everything in between. So knowing the various stages of dementia and how to respond can help alleviate a lot of stress and anxiety from both the patient and the caregivers.
The seven stages are:
Today well identify each stage of dementia with the signs, symptoms, and what to do next to plan aheadplus when its time to seek out professional memory care.
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A Person With Dementia Doesnt Always Fit Into One Stage
Dementia affects each person in a unique way and changes different parts of the brain at different points in the disease progression.
Plus, different types of dementia tend to have different symptoms.
For example, someone with frontotemporal dementia may first show extreme behavior and personality changes. But someone with Alzheimers disease would first experience short-term memory loss and struggle with everyday tasks.
Researchers and doctors still dont know enough about how these diseases work to predict exactly what will happen.
Another common occurrence is for someone in the middle stages of dementia to suddenly have a clear moment, hour, or day and seem like theyre back to their pre-dementia abilities. They could be sharp for a little while and later, go back to having obvious cognitive impairment.
When this happens, some families may feel like their older adult is faking their symptoms or just isnt trying hard enough.
Its important to know that this isnt true, its truly the dementia thats causing their declining abilities as well as those strange moments of clarity theyre truly not doing it on purpose.
Steer Clear Of Toxic Products
If harmful things are readily accessible, individuals with dementia may mistake them for harmless ones and injure themselves.
They may not perceive knives as dangerous things and may injure themselves. Alternatively, people may mistake toxic substances such as cleaning chemicals for regular drinks.
Remove potentially harmful objects and store them in protected, locked rooms where they are not visible to them while rummaging.
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Stage : Follow The Leader
We know someone has moved into this next stage when they start saying to us, Oh, Ill just have whatever youre having or It doesnt matter to meyou decide. Its not that theyve become more easygoing: they simply are no longer able to make decisions without assistance. They cannot track time, read clocks, or interpret calendars consistently. Their desire for independence has melted away unless anosognosia is still fully present.
At this point, we again know its time to increase our support. We watch to see whether they are losing weight due to failure to recognize food and packaging, whether they are bathing or have forgotten the purpose of soap, whether they still retain some idea of cleanliness in the home, and whether they have begun to perceive dreamed events as real. Now we expect their judgment to be consistently impaired, and watch for misinterpreted realities that could become dangerous. Their daily activities with us are gradually lengthened to include meals, cleaning, and household choresand maybe visits to our local wellness center for a supervised shower and soak in the hot tub.
Stage : Age Associated Memory Impairment
This stage features occasional lapses of memory most frequently seen in:
- Forgetting where one has placed an object
- Forgetting names that were once very familiar
Oftentimes, this mild decline in memory is merely normal age-related cognitive decline, but it can also be one of the earliest signs of degenerative dementia. At this stage, signs are still virtually undetectable through clinical testing. Concern for early onset of dementia should arise with respect to other symptoms.
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Knowing The Stages Of Dementia Helps You Plan
Even if the stages arent exact and symptoms can still be unpredictable, being able to plan ahead is essential.
The truth is that Alzheimers and dementia care is expensive and time-consuming. Being financially prepared for increasing care needs is a necessity.
On an emotional level, having an idea of what symptoms to expect helps you find ways to cope with challenging behaviors.
It also gives you a chance to mentally prepare yourself for the inevitable changes in your older adult.
Why Do The Elderly Deny Signs And Symptoms Of Dementia
Many people are reluctant to reveal dementia signs in an effort to avoid negative stereotypes, shame, or embarrassment, according to a study of anxiety and stigma in dementia. Its not uncommon for someone in the early stages of dementia to be in denial, keep it a secret, or drift away socially. This can lead to social isolation, overdependence on family, and decreased quality of life, the researchers write.
Sometimes, behavior that seems like dementia denial or avoidance may actually be a lack of awareness. People with anosognosia a medical condition defined as lack of insight dont realize they have a cognitive impairment. They may be aware of some symptoms without realizing dementia is involved, or their awareness may fluctuate.
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