Thursday, May 31, 2012

Friday, December 26, 2008 Danyell asks

Q: What are final stages and how long after being taken off meds would someone live?

What are the final stages before death with Alzheimer/Dimentia patients? How long would it take a person to pass on once taken off all medications? My husbands Grandmother is in a nursing home and has been for 10 years now. She has been living with Alzheimer's/Dimentia for years now and the last two months she has really gone down hill. She remembers no one and she refuses to eat. She has lost 46 pounds in two months. She lays in bed most of the day and sleeps. When she is awake she humms songs. The doctor has taken her off all medications. The doctor said she probably would not live through the holiday.

Answer This
Answers (3)
Dorian Martin, Health Guide
12/28/08 11:31am

Hi, Danyell,

 

I know how difficult your situation is. Here's additional information on the stages of Alzheimer's:

http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/symptom-checker-000002_8-145.html

 

As far as how long your husband's grandmother will live, I'm not sure what to tell you. Does she have other health issues? In my mom's case, she had Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease as well as Alzheimer's. Her lungs were the cause of her death, although Alzheimer's contributed. My grandmother also had dementia, and lived a long time in a nursing home. The cause of death in her case was pneumonia. So as your husband's grandmother gets weaker, she may contract an illness from others at the nursing home that ultimately may be the cause of her death.

 

Take care and keep us posted!

 

Dorian

Reply
12/28/08 7:27am

Hi

Wow I am so sorry you are going through this with your husband and his grandmother. I am not a professionial but my husband has alzheimers. I truly am sorry. It is a shame she has had to endure this so long. My God Bless her and lift her in his arms and carry her home. Do they have her on any pain meds. I had a friend once that went through this same thing and once they reach this point it is better for her to let her go. Try to picture God lifting her in his arms and carrying her home where she will be well and happy again. I will keep you in my prays. Get you husband to get proactive with the doctors and tell him to tell them this has to end, her pain has to end. Once they know the families wishes they should let her pass painlessly and swiftly. God be with you.

Connie

Reply
2/21/09 8:38pm

Im only fourteen but have you asked god to help heal the alzheimers or go to a church and pray i think it could help you dont have anything to lose.

Reply
Answer This

Important:
We hope you find this general health information helpful. Please note however, that this Q&A is meant to support not replace the professional medical advice you receive from your doctor. No information in the Answers above is intended to diagnose or treat any condition. The views expressed in the Answers above belong to the individuals who posted them and do not necessarily reflect the views of Remedy Health Media. Remedy Health Media does not review or edit content posted by our community members, but reserves the right to remove any material it deems inappropriate.

Ask a Question

Get answers from our experts and community members.

Btn_ask_question_med
View all questions (1484) >
By Danyell— Last Modified: 12/22/10, First Published: 12/26/08