Alzheimer's End of Life Concerns Questions

1. My dad seems to have lost his spirit, how long does he have left?

   Assessing how much time a dementia patient has left to live is an almost impossible task. Just as we are told at the beginning of the dementia journey that the length of illness can last from "two to twenty years" so too is the vague reported length of this final chapter.
   1 Expert Answer

2. If my mother is in late-severe stage of Alzheimer's, how much longer should I expect her to live?

   You do not describe in which way is your mother suffering but she should not be suffering if she receives compassionate care. Try to involve her in a hospice program because hospice staff is skillful in stopping or preventing suffering.
   1 Expert Answer

3. Is baby-like behavior normal in end-stage Alzheimer's?

   It is not unusual to witness childlike behavior in the end-stage of Alzheimer's (AD). Folks with this disease who manifest verbal actions reminiscent of babies generally fall into one of two categories. It is not difficult to uncover the trigger for your mom's 'howling' if you ask yourself the following questions...
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4. What it a person's life expectancy if they have late stage Alzheimer's?

   It is impossible to provide prognosis for your mother because Alzheimer's disease does not cause death itself; death is caused by complications, most often pneumonia, and it is impossible to predict when she might develop such a complication...
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5. What eventually kills an Alzheimer's patient?

   Most common cause of death in individuals with advanced Alzheimer's disease is an intercurrent infection, mostly pneumonia. An intercurrent infection is almost inevitable consequence of advanced dementia because of impairment of immune function, inability to ambulate, incontinence, and aspiration...
   1 Expert Answer, 41 Community Answers

6. Can cancer worsen Alzheimer's symptoms?

   There may be couple reasons for faster decline of you mother's dementia. Her cancer may have spread to the brain and cause additional symptoms. It is also possible that increased stress caused faster decline.
   1 Expert Answer

7. How do you accept the decline of dementia patient even though you know it was coming?

   Living with dementia can be very difficult for families. You want to do everything you can for your mom, but accepting her decline—which is part of the disease process—can be physically and emotionally taxing. And, it is the behavioral changes, like needing help with dressing, toileting, and eatinating...
   1 Expert Answer, 2 Community Answers

8. How long can you live with dementia?

   The answer depends on many different factors, including what's causing the dementia. For Alzheimer's, for example, factors include the age at diagnosis, severity of symptoms, and general health status. Nor is there a texbook progression to the disease; some people go downhill quickly after diagnosis...
   1 Expert Answer

9. Can a Person With Alzheimer's Benefit From Hospice Care?

   Yes, hospice care is a good fit for many Alzheimer's patients who want physical symptoms controlled and as much spiritual and emotional support as possible.
   FAQ 1 Expert Answer, 3 Community Answers

10. Is it normal for dementia patients to lose their ability to speak?

    It sounds as if your mother is depressed and she may need medication to help her get over this sadness. Depression is often seen in people with dementia.
    1 Expert Answer, 6 Community Answers

11. At What Point Will Hospice Provide Care for Someone With Alzheimer's?

    Not all hospice providers use the same criteria for admission, but some standards are beginning to evolve. To be eligible for hospice care, the patient must generally be unable to:
    FAQ 1 Expert Answer, 1 Community Answer

12. What is the life expectancy of someone with Alzheimer's?

    The general rule of thumb is that someone with Alzheimer's has half the life expectancy of a peer without this disease. So the average 70- year- old woman can expect to live 16 years, but a 70-year-old with Alzheimer's has an 8-year life expectancy...
    1 Expert Answer, 26 Community Answers

13. How do you comfort someone who is dying?

    Your predicament brings The Serenity Prayer to mind. Many people in powerless situations, whatever their view of religion or whether they embrace any religion at all, report that simply repeating this prayer to themselves offers some solace:
    1 Expert Answer, 3 Community Answers

14. Should we tell my mother, who has Alzheimer's, about my father's death?

    Yes, your mother has the right to know this information, no matter what stage of disease she's ain. How she responds and how well she remembers is hard to predict.
    1 Expert Answer

15. Will moving be too much for Dad?

    My question to you is now that the staff has stepped up to the plate, why would you want to move your Dad? Not knowing more than what you have told me, I would strongly suggest you not move him. Thank you, Donna Q. Robbins
    1 Expert Answer, 1 Community Answer

16. How long will it take for her to die in her condition?

    When a person dies is sometimes not easy to determine until they are actively dying. Their is no way to predict exactly when someone will die. Your hospice nurse can usually tell when it will be a matter of hours. Rather than focus on her death, spend time celebrating her life. Talk to her even though she seems not to respond...
    1 Expert Answer, 21 Community Answers

17. Do we tell my grandmother, who is suffering from Alzheimers, about a death in the family?

    On the Alzheimer List (from Washington University ADRC) we have dealt with this many times and for people in many stages of the disease. Bottom line...there are a few rules:
    1 Expert Answer, 10 Community Answers

18. How long can my grandmother live with out food?

    Hi Tommy P,
    1 Community Answer

19. How long can an Alzheimer's patient live with cancer, and is treatment worth while?

    Hello all... been a while since my last post. Mom (late severe AD) is in ICU, had part of colon removed, one ovary and a tumor the size of a grapefruit. We just got the pathology report that says stage 3c colon cancer. Also the cancer has spread to 7 lymphnodes . My question is... what is the survival rate with AD patients and this type of cancer...

20. How can we prepare my father, who has early Alzheimer's for the news that his wife is terminally ill?

    My question is partly a response to Paula Spencer's article about discussing sad events with a person who has dementia. This article gave good suggestions when remembering a sad event. I am interested in any advice when the event has not yet occurred but is inevitable. Both of my in-laws live with my partner and I...