It is a complicated subject to broach, but when dealing with an illness as debilitating as Alzheimer’s disease, you must tackle the news head-on. Managing the effects of Alzheimer’s requires not only adequate care but also very strong attention to detail. This degenerative brain disease is divided into stages, some more discernable than others. If you have a family member who is suffering from Alzheimer’s, understanding each step of the disease can make the caregiving process more straightforward.
Early Stages
Detecting early signs of Alzheimer’s requires knowledge consumption rather than assumption. The decline at this stage is mild and not every indicator of a person’s struggle to move or adapt like they did when they were younger can be linked to Alzheimer’s.
You may notice a person has developed minor memory problems, forgetting where he or she put things around the house. However, these are not automatic indicators of Alzheimer’s and may merely be age-related issues. They can still produce good results on memory and cognitive tests, showing no legitimate symptoms of a disease.
Conversely, when those tests show poor results, that’s when you will be able to characterize those behaviors as Alzheimer’s symptoms. If your family member starts having trouble remembering names, finding words during conversations, or difficulty organizing things, these are clear indicators of a potential illness.
Moderate Decline
At this stage, more concerning patterns will start to arise with your family member or any person who has Alzheimer’s disease.
Symptoms become evident as the affected person has issues with simple arithmetic. Remembering important life moments he or she experienced will also become problematic. Short-term memory is the strongest determinant as people with noticeable Alzheimer’s symptoms often forget what they just did, whether it’s that day or week.
There’s also a moderately severe decline, where a person showing clear signs of this brain disease will be confused by the simplest of things. They will forget simple details such as their address or phone number and have issues dressing. People at this stage will still be able to bathe, use the bathroom, and remember family histories. But, this would be the time when treatment becomes an even greater necessity. You will need to show higher levels of patience and understanding in the caregiving process knowing that you’re dealing with someone whose formerly basic skills are significantly diminished.
Severe Decline and Nearing Death
At this advanced stage, patients need regular, around-the-clock supervision. Symptoms include complete unawareness of their surroundings, drastic behavioral changes, loss of bladder control, and an inability to remember personal details as well as family history. In some cases, patients can even wander off to random places, which can be a scary experience if you don’t have a watchful eye on them.
Once this terminal illness deepens, people who have Alzheimer’s have little to no control over themselves, being unable to communicate. They might still utter words or phrases or even nod to you when you speak with them, but they won’t be fully aware what’s going on around them. At some point, patients may end up losing their ability to swallow. This stage requires you to provide maximum comfort. Your care will mean providing physical and spiritual upliftment most respectfully to improve their quality of life as much as is possible until the end.
If you’re in Scottsdale and you have a family member with symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease who is in need of high-quality treatment, contact Peter with Colten Adult Care right way. Professional assistance, excellent amenities, and beautiful surroundings await as patients get the care they deserve.
