End Stage Dementia

Dementia is a pretty broad term, referring to a number of diseases that result in the progressive degradation of mental capabilities, initially manifesting with failing short term, then long term memory, eventually affecting one's language capacity, finally attacking cognitive functionality.

Mostly affecting the elderly-though it can manifest in younger individuals- usually reaching its crux ten or so years after diagnosis, end stage dementia can prove debilitating to a patient's ability to interact with their environment, with primary symptoms including the following:

• Memory: this is usually one of the most common symptoms, also the most ostensible, reaching new heights with end stage dementia where patients are incapable of recognizing normal objects, persons they have known for long periods of time, usually known to repeat themselves, incapable to remembering what they said mere minutes to seconds earlier.
• Communication: communication can become quite an issue for end stage dementia patients, who now find themselves incapable of understanding basic concepts such as numbers and words; speech eventually becomes debilitated and can prove quite frustrating for the patients themselves who will fail to understand their own words.
• Motion: movement is likely to become quite a challenge, with patients basically losing the ability to execute the most basic tasks, from brushing their teeth to getting dressed. Patients do become quite clumsy, their motions unsteady and their movements quite slow, always bumping into things and dropping items.

For this reason they will need assistance getting about because they run the risk of injuring themselves.

• Eating: With reflexes and muscle movement starting to fail, swallowing will become difficult, one of several symptoms likely to lead to gross weight loss due to a lack of proper food consumption; thought there are also cases of patients over eating; either way chocking is one of the most hazardous occurrences to keep an eye out for.

• Behavior: this usually proves to be the most volatile as behavioral changes can swing any number of directions; you are looking at mood swings switching between trepidations, agitation, confusion and even aggression.

It is common to see patients in these final stages rocking back and forth, fidgeting from restlessness due to a lack of physical activity and so on. Hallucinations and delusions are nothing rare.

It is important to understand the symptoms that forebode a patient's descent into the final stages of dementia. The key usually lies in the cognitive functions which will enter a shocking state of decline, with the patient proving incapable of executing the most basic physical tasks, this including walking.

What results is a considerable spike in the intensity of the care required; after all, at these final stages the patient is reduced to little more than an infant who will require patient, compassionate and completely dependent care from a capable care giver.

Death usually follows in little more than six months following the manifestation of symptoms.

It is imperative that one consider placing such patients within the hands of a vetted care facility where it is more likely that they will receive the best care possible for those remaining months of life. One shouldn't underestimate the effort required to care for a dementia patient in this final stages, with care givers themselves encouraged to find help where necessary to stave off bouts of depression.