The questions (there will be more) are needed by my wife as a "caretaker role" in a Nursing Home.
- Introduction
- Diagnosis
- Treatment
- Prevention
-
Caregiving
- Coping with Emotional Changes
- Coping with Memory Loss
- Costs and Insurance
- Creating a Daily Routine
- Exercise
- Health and Wellbeing of the Caregiver
- Home Safety Adjustments
- Mental Exercises
- Respite Care
- Talking to Children about Alzheimer's
- Talking to Friends about Alzheimer's
- Telling Someone They Have Alzheimer's
- Transition to Assisted Living
- Transition to Nursing Home
- Work
- Related Conditions
- Resources
Q: Is alzheimer's Dementia terminal: progressive, Stubborness, or predictable in it's progression?
Answers (2)
12/ 6/09 5:54pm
Hi, Chatlzt,
I agree with Joe that Alzheimer's is a terminal disease ultimately and that there are stages. However, in my experience in caregiving for my mom, the disease isn't linear in its progression. One day she would be very verbal to the point where friends thought she shouldn't be in a nursing home, and by the next day, she could barely talk. Andone day, she wouldn't know who I was and the next day she did. Based on this, I would say that there is a long-term progression, but the day-to-day events and responses can really surprise caregivers.
Take care and keep us posted!
Dorian
12/ 4/09 12:49am
chatlzt, Alzheimer's disease ultimately becomes a terminal illness in the end stages of the disease. The disease progresses at different rates among individuals. The effects of the progression are cumulative and somewhat predictable. The stages may have overlapping behaviors from other stages. As the brain loses function, the ability to reason becomes less reliable, delusions and halucinations may be present, bodily functions become impacted. Drugs can delay or alleviate some symptoms for a while, but there is no cure. There is no timeline to predict a person's longevity. The disease is not limited to elderly persons. I hope that this is helpful to you. -- Joe
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By chatlzt— Last Modified: 12/18/10, First Published: 12/03/09
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