Preparing For The Last Stages Of Alzheimers Disease

Last stages of Alzheimer’s

Alzheimer’s disease is, ultimately, a fatal condition. Much misinformation exists; however, in regard to how exactly an Alzheimer’s patient dies. Few patients actually die of the disease itself, and if they do, death is a relatively painless and peaceful process similar to falling into a deep sleep. Understanding the process of death associated with Alzheimer’s disease can helped loved ones and family members face much of the sadness and anxiety they may experience over the last stages of Alzheimer’s disease.

The last stages of Alzheimer’s disease are not easily understood because of the complicated nature of the disease itself. Alzheimer’s entails a process of slow degeneration of neurons in the brain, which leads to cognitive impairment and loss of functional abilities. Many Alzheimer’s patients, however, do not die of the disease, but instead, die of cancer, strokes, infections and other health problems that affect otherwise healthy people their age. Alzheimer’s patients live an average of eight years after diagnosis. Typically, life expectancy from the time of diagnosis is cut in half. Considering that many Alzheimer’s patients are elderly when they are diagnosed, as few as one in thirty reach the last stages of Alzheimer’s disease. Most of the time, death is not the slow, painful process most loved ones fear and imagine. No one can envision exactly how a loved one will die, so it is best to view the disease as a day by day process.

While it is best not to dwell on death as patients face the last stages of Alzheimer’s, preparing for the legal and healthcare decisions that need to be made as death approaches can be highly beneficial. Caregivers should find out about local laws regarding who can make healthcare decisions for an ill person and how an ill person’s wishes can be upheld legally. Seeking the advice of a lawyer may be the best option at this stage in the disease process.

Caregivers also need to spend time thinking over the moral and emotional ramifications of some of the healthcare decisions they may face as a loved one enters into the last stages of Alzheimer’s. For example, the time may come when an Alzheimer’s patient can no longer take any nourishment by the mouth, and a feeding tube is necessary to prevent death. The decision to prolong or end a loved one’s life can be incredibly stressful. Caregivers must weigh their decision carefully by examining not only their own perspective on life and death but also their loved one’s wishes and perspective. They must examine what decision will cause the least amount of suffering. Talking to someone who understands the dying process, learning about death and dying, and visiting other people who are dying can help caregivers make an informed decision. In addition, some caregivers may wish to make arrangements for loved ones to return home for the final days of their lives. This would entail more information and difficult decisions to make. In all cases, early preparation is the key.


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