Many dementia patients survive to the most advanced stages of the disease. At this last stage, it is difficult for them to communicate their thoughts and emotions, making it difficult to tell when they are in their final days and hours.
It might be difficult to tell when someone with dementia is nearing the end of their life. However, late-stage dementia symptoms and an abrupt decline in the person’s condition may indicate that the dying process is starting.
How long will someone with dementia live?
Dementia is a life-limiting disorder, but it is difficult to predict how long a person with dementia will survive. Numerous elements influence this.
It may be easier to predict how long the person will live and how they will pass away if they also have another life-limiting illness, such as cancer or heart failure.
A person may succumb to another condition at any stage of dementia. That said, they may pass away before their dementia symptoms worsen.
A person with advanced dementia may gradually deteriorate over several months. During this time, they typically:
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become more frail
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have more frequent infections or falls
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have issues eating, drinking, and swallowing
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be more prone to require urgent medical attention
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become less mobile
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sleep more
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talk less often.
Individuals in the advanced stages of dementia are likely to have a weakened immune system. As a result, they are more likely to contract infections, which might continue for a prolonged period. Pneumonia brought on by an infection is among the leading causes of death for individuals with dementia.
A person with dementia in its advanced stages may exhibit signs of impending death, but they may also live with these symptoms for several months. This uncertainty makes it exceedingly challenging to plan and implement measures at the end of someone’s life.
What symptoms indicate that a person with dementia is reaching the end of their life?
It can be easier to provide the appropriate care for a person with dementia when you are aware of when they are nearing death. However, it might be difficult to determine when this time is.
This uncertainty can have a significant impact on both the individual and their caregivers, family, and friends.
Signs of late-stage dementia
Some symptoms of late-stage dementia can indicate that the patient is nearing the end of their disease. Among them are:
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speech limited to single words or sentences that may not make sense
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having a limited understanding of what is spoken to them
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requiring assistance for most daily tasks
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eating less and experiencing swallowing issues
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incontinence of the bladder and bowel
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losing the ability to stand or walk, having trouble sitting, and becoming bedridden.
A person with dementia is most likely reaching the end of their life if they exhibit most or all of these symptoms. In addition, they can be very frail, have recurring infections, or develop pressure ulcers (bedsores).
Signs of the dying process
Further alterations are frequent as a person’s condition deteriorates and they are on the verge of death. The individual could:
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deteriorate more swiftly than before
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lose consciousness
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not unable to swallow
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grow agitated or restless
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start breathing with an irregular pattern
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have a rattly or chesty breathing
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have cold hands and feet.
When a person is dying, these changes occur even though they are frequently unconscious of what is happening.
How can medical professionals assist at this point?
Healthcare providers can describe the changes so you understand what is going on.
Additionally, medical experts can take action—often with medication—to lessen the patient’s pain or discomfort.
If the person is unable to swallow, medication can be administered via skin patches, tiny injections, or syringe pumps, which deliver a continuous flow of medicine through a small needle inserted beneath the skin. Consult a general practitioner or other medical expert about this.
Alzheimer’s Research Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping caregivers of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. We provide the latest information and news about the illness and helpful tips to help caregivers cope with their daily caregiving challenges. We realize the most important thing that a caregiver needs is financial assistance. Therefore, we provide grants to caregivers to ease their financial burden. Caregivers can apply for grants here: Alzheimer’s Grant Application.
You can also help caregivers in their endeavor by donating as much as possible: Donation To Alzheimer’s Research Associations.