Late-stage Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is extremely difficult for both the patient and the caretaker. The caretaker is forced to watch as their loved one’s cognitive and physical abilities slowly decline. It is physically and emotionally draining.
Knowing your major concern areas ahead of time can help you deal with these issues better once your loved one reaches that point.
Learning that your loved one has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease can be a very difficult experience. Learning about the stages and treatments of the disease, and helping to plan for the future are all daunting tasks. While the primary focus tends to be on the patient, it is equally important for the family and caregivers to take care of themselves.
If you have just been diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease (AD), you may be wondering what your next steps should be. This is a frightening time, but preparation will make the disease’s progression much easier on you and your family. This blog outlines the major concerns that you will face in the latest stage of AD.
Alzheimer’s disease is progressive, and it is often classified into several stages. These stages are simply known as Early stage, Mid-stage, and Late stage. Sometimes these stages are broken down even further. None of the stages have a specific time length, and the time spent within each stage will vary by individual. Regardless, the middle stage is perhaps the fastest-moving stage.
The early stages of Alzheimer’s are marked with significant behavioral changes. Friends and family will likely notice behavioral changes long before the patient does. Behavioral changes are often gradual and subtle, and they increase as the disease progresses. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is almost a pre-Alzheimer’s disease, but not all patients with MCI will develop Alzheimer’s disease.