In our last post, we defined Alzheimer’s disease and discussed the necessity of planning ahead as early as possible. If given the opportunity, most people would opt to plan ahead making their own choices to improve their quality of life as the disease progresses.
Alzheimer’s is a disease that affects a person’s cognitive abilities, worsening over time. It typically takes a predictable path through certain, overlapping, stages – although no two people have exactly the same experience. Usually, the disease moves through the seven stages in seven to ten years, but it may be shorter or longer for some people.
7 Stages of Alzheimer’s Disease: The Global Deterioration Scale
Stage 1:
- No cognitive decline
- No memory problems
Stage 2:
- Memory lapses, not typically obvious to others
- Forgetting familiar names and locations of objects
Stage 3:
- Issues tend to be noticeable to family, friends, and co-workers
- Mild forgetfulness
- Difficulty concentrating or limited attention span
- Getting lost or problems with orientation
- Difficulty learning new things
- Trouble finding the right word and other communication difficulties
- Misplacing or losing valuable objects
- Trouble handling work challenges
Stage 4:
- Some memory loss of personal history
- Trouble with complex tasks such as managing finances, shopping, travelling, etc.
- Reduced knowledge of current and recent events
- Impaired ability to perform challenging mental arithmetic (e.g. counting back from 85 by 6)
Stage 5:
- Moderately severe cognitive decline
- Major memory gaps, such as names of close family members
- Needs help with daily tasks such as dressing
Stage 6:
- Continued memory loss, such as forgetting spouse’s name or primary caregiver
- Loss of awareness of experiences in their lives
- Loss of awareness of recent events
- Needs help with activities like bathing, getting dressed, etc.
- Trouble with counting
- Changes in personality or emotions, such as confusion, suspiciousness, anxiety, anger, hostility, sadness or depression, apprehension, agitation, or delusions
- Obsessions such as repeating simple activities
- Disruption of the normal sleep/waking cycle
- Increasing episodes of incontinence
Stage 7:
- Severe cognitive impairments, very severe cognitive decline
- Vocabulary becomes limited with verbal abilities eventually disappearing
- Loss of the ability to walk independently and sit without support
- Needs help with eating
- Needs help with using the bathroom and toilet; usually incontinent
When Alzheimer’s Turns into a Crisis
For children with an elderly parent suffering from Alzheimer’s, one of the most challenging moments is deciding when to make the call that their parent can no longer live on their own, or needs more extensive help. This is so hard because it can seem like admitting something is truly wrong. Yet deep down, we know we will have to make that call eventually. Hesitating too long can turn Alzheimer’s into a crisis situation.
A domino crisis effect can happen when families either don’t know the extent of the elder’s Alzheimer’s or they are unwilling to recognize the resulting impairments.
For example: Dad was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s 5 years ago but it hasn’t caused any serious problems yet. However, what the children aren’t aware of is that Mom has been supporting Dad in his day-to-day activities. It’s winter and Mom slips on the ice and breaks her ankle; she is brought to the hospital and can’t leave for weeks while her injury heals. Now, Dad is living alone and one day forgets to turn off the kitchen tap. No one realizes until major flooding occurs, causing thousands of dollars in damage. Dad cannot stay home, so who is taking Dad to live with them tonight?
Situations like this are all too common, but they don’t have to be with proper planning and support from an elderly assistance coordinator who is ready with a plan for Dad if Mom is unexpectedly taken to the hospital.
When Should I Get Help for My Elderly Parent with Alzheimer’s?
Usually, elders in the early stages (up to stage 3 or 4) of Alzheimer’s can manage on their own, or perhaps with minor assistance from family and their partner. However, this is the time to begin planning and consulting with an elderly assistance coordinator.
Another benefit of planning at this early stage is the elder is often aware of their situation, and can therefore talk about their wishes for future scenarios and help in the planning process. Future accommodation and care options can be quite costly with Alzheimer’s so it is essential to plan ahead.
Once an elder reaches the middle stages (stage 5 and 6), they may begin to need assistance with daily tasks. Depending on the situation, this may be the time to bring in external elder care providers.
In late stage Alzheimer’s (stage 7), they will need help 24 hours of the day.
No matter which stage of Alzheimer’s a person is in, it’s important they are treated with dignity and respect. They should be able to focus on living their life to the fullest extent possible with the appropriate supports in place.
For more information about Alzheimer’s, we encourage you to visit the Alzheimer’s Society website.
About Silver Sherpa
Silver Sherpa provides planning and coordination assistance for the elderly and their families, whether they are currently in a crisis or would like to plan ahead to avoid a crisis in the future. Take the first step and contact us for a complimentary consultation.
Please visit the Osteoporosis Canada website for more details about osteoporosis and, specifically, tips for preventing falls
About Silver Sherpa
Your parents. Our priority. Silver Sherpa becomes your trusted co-pilot with specialized planning, coordination, and assistance services to help the elderly and their families get the care and support they need. Schedule a complimentary consultation with us today.
*Silver Sherpa are not medical professionals. The advice in this blog is not intended as a substitute for medical advice.
