How fast is the last stage of Alzheimer's?

My mom doesn't have Alzheimers, but a quick search has given me the following stages, but it sounds like you should join the Alzheimer's Association.
Stage 1 – Mild/Early (lasts 2-4 yrs) – Frequent recent memory loss, particularly of recent conversations and events. ...
Stage 2 – Moderate/Middle (lasts 2-10 yrs) – Can no longer cover up problems. ... Stage 3 – Severe/Late (lasts 1-3+ yrs) – Confused about past and present.

The Functional Assessment Staging Test is a little more detailed and may give you a better idea where your mom is at. You should be able to find a copy of it if you search "fast staging".

You might want to ask your mom's doctor whether hospice care would be appropriate for her. My late husband had Alzheimer's, and the hospice nurses took time to explain things to me and answer my questions.

Dear one, My mom went from Stage 2 to Stage 7 in a year! I retired to take care of her, and the plateaus were obvious. But, everyone is different!

It varies. I had a relative who lived for quite a number of years with this disease but my mother was gone inside of 7 months of the diagnosis. Her doctor told me that this was rare.
I would ask to talk to her doctor about this.

Casper, from my reading scientists feel that the FAST stages and timelines are very accurate. If your loved one does not fit the guidelines it is because they have some other type of dementia, or mixed dementia, or other health problems that come into play. And lets face it, not many people get to be old without having some other comorbidities.

My Heart goes out to you and your family. Here is my personal experience and also my "opinions" Everyone is different and I truly believe the environment and love that is given to someone diagnosed with Alzheimer's plays a huge role in their quality of life and/or their decline. One thing I can say with much certainty is Medication can have a huge impact on your mom and can both help or exacerbate her condition. Talk in great detail with your moms Dr and keep a log of the symptoms . This will help the Dr help you. Also, when it comes to hospice, I think there is still a "stigma" attached. Hospice has changed dramatically over the last few years. Many take a more palliative approach. We called them in 2 years before my father passed and they were a God-Send. I also learned that many therapies were available to my father including PT, OT, Speech and even Music Therapy (each Hospice is different – I hope there is one available to you like we had.) on another note, They offer many durable goods like Lift Chair, Hospital bed, Depends and even medication all at No Cost. Call your local Alzheimer’s chapter to learn more. It’s no longer just for the terminally ill. You are all in my prayers.

I totally agree with UNeekguy1. Contact your local alzheimer's association. Go to alz.org and put in your location. They are a great resource and I even joined to help in an Alzheimer's Walk. It was great. Good luck and my prayers are with you.

I would say enjoy and treasure the moments you have with her and stop worrying about how fast or when the decline will continue, you are wasting time worrying. Only God knows when the time will be for your loved one to go home. Everyone is different in the disease and she could live another 10 years or less. Just make sure you keep in touch with her doctor and find out when hospice is actually required. best of luck

Please know, every person suffering from Alzheimer's (and their caregivers) are extremely different. No one really can give an exact answer because no one is exactly alike. My husband was officially given the sad news in 2006 after I pleaded with his PCP that something was wrong. I will always regret that his doctor poohed it off as simply 'old age.' Early detection is very important. Also the age of the patient, environment, caregiving, activities and support are important roles. The discernment is real, sometimes the help is not. So, getting that out of my system...every patient is different. Stage 1 and Stage 2 can go on for 10+ years, Stage 3 (where my husband is now) seems to be moving more quickly. The confusion, surroundings become unfamiliar, the quirky scenerios---hiding rolls of toilet paper, glasses, utensils is the norm. Difficulty eating, unable to dress and undress oneself or shower is the beginning of Stage 3, so I have been told. Please join support groups. Yes, there are caregivers out there that go alone, however sharing your experiences, emailing, just keeping in touch with those going through what you are experiencing is a wonderful antidote. And, please know, those that have not been a caregiver or experienced a love one with dementia, will not be all that caring and sympathetic. They are good people...but absorb with their own lives. Please do not be hurt by this. Be strong. It can continue for many years. I have friends that have been taking care of their parents in their 90's for 15-20 years. However, rereading your question, your mom's awareness and her ability to understand leads me to wonder---are you certain your mom has dementia or could it be old age? Just a thought. Our prayers are with you.

I've been told by my Mother's doctor that it depends on the type of dementia they have. My Mother has vascular dementia that he says has plateaus and large drop offs. Vascular dementia is one of the fastest in decline. I agree with Wolflover451, treasure each and every moment you have with your Mom. There is no magic ball giving this information, everyone is different. Make sure Mom has good care and remember to take care of yourself too! Warmest regards during this difficult time.

Like many people have said, everyone is different. At a support group, a lady said her mother died six months after her diagnosis. My mother lived for seven years following hers.
However short or long, it is difficult and heartbreaking for the caregiver. As someone also said, God knows the right time to take the person home. I pray that God blesses each caregiver as they go through the stressful times. And I know God has answered my prayer because there is no way i could have endured the struggles and pain without His help.
Whether a person has Alzheimers or not, life is precious and must come to an end someday. It is good to communicate with other caregivers on sites like this because encouragement is hard to find from those unwilling to help.

My heart aches for you. It is a challenge for the caregiver. Get help for yourself is the most important thing you can do.Each person is different. My husband had Alz for 8 years.
My prayerful support is with you.

Having a prognosis of "not a prolonged illness" tells me (as a nurse), the doctor is saying within one year. She has lost her muscle control, but with her still speaking, her language skills seem to be intact so those abilities need to degrade considerably before the end stage. My husband is just the opposite, he is still walking, but he cannot form a sentence. It takes five steps to formulate a thought, create the word, then turn it into the spoken word. Each person is unique, and thankfully you still have her speaking to you, but it does continue to go downhill from now on...My best to you and your mother.

Thank you to all who have taken time to respond to my question. I truly appreciate your perspective and help.
I am one of 5 children, all of who are involved as care takers along with my Dad and a CNA we have hired. We are so very lucky that we all can be involved. In a different sort of way it has given us time individually with our Mom, special tender moments if you will. It also gives us time with our Dad (taking in dinner, chats, etc.). So we feel blessed that she is able to join in conversations, tap her toes to music, enjoy pictures with us.
We want to keep her home as long as possible and plan to get involved with hospice. So far things are going along ok with all of our help. Her dr has said he will refer us to hospice when we feel it is time.
Right now she seems to be holding her own. She was able to take a few steps with support yesterday and today. She continues to eat and drink. So for now, one day at a time.
I admire all the care givers out there who are going it alone, not sure how you do it! Thank you again for your kind words and help! xoxox

My husband has been in memory care for three months. In the last two weeks he has declined in both memory and physically. He can still feed himself, but needs help dressing, showering, etc. He is sleeping more and is less responsive when awake. When I talk to him, unless he's looking directly at me, he does not respond. The decline after a plateau seems to be more drastic each time. I assume this is stage three and, like Shergreene, I too wonder how long this stage will last and what is next. My prayers are with all of my fellow care-givers.

I lost my mom 2 months ago at 93,her decline happened slowly over 2-3 years,but in the end it went quite fast,as she stopped eating in the last 2 weeks.She absolutely refused even though we kept offering her.It was hard but in the end we knew she had had enough.We enjoyed every moment we could with her in those last 3 years and there were many very beautiful memories we can now hold on to.I do believe you will need help,it is very hard on your own,and when you are trying to be the caregiver,you can't enjoy her,so I also advise getting as much help as you can.Pray that you will have many special moments with her.It takes a lot of love,Take care of yourself too!

My mother died after a year of not walking. She was still eating, I gave her a bowl of cornflakes and she even tipped the bowl to drink the milk in the bottom. She died not long after that.

My mom, 91 was showing signs of early dementia in 2009. About three years ago, she was very ill with pneumonia and c- diff and they brought hospice in. She recovered from those acute illnesses but her ADL's deteriorated. She now is in assisted living and is total care. She recognizes me but doesnt carry conversation well. She answers questions but her responses are not always appropriate. She sleeps alot. Doesnt seem she is in pain. Our family is so sad to see her like this.

It is very hard to say how long the last stage lasts. I think each person is different and other factors also contribute eg my mom had a few small Ita's as well...i.e. small bleeds on the brain(which they can do nothing to stop).It is even difficult for the Dr's to predict. Just try to take one day at a time, that is the best advice I can give from my experience. The nurses at the rest home and hospice are very good about helping you and advising if you go to them. They can also ensure that the patient is in no pain or anything like that...I really recommend that as their help and advice is invaluable.

Is your mother's inability to stand or walk on her own a result of weakened muscles? My mom was diagnosed with Altzheimer's six years ago and is in a nursing home. She's actually doing really well, both mentally and physically, but occasionally her muscles have weakened due to inactivity, and she has needed physical therapy. Is there any chance that physical therapy would help your mother?

My Mom has lost a lot of weight which seems to have weakened her. Her dr does encourage us to have her use her muscles as much as possible. Thank you!

My mom was diagnosed in 2009, although her symptoms showed a few years earlier. She is at the point of being incapable of imprinting new information and lives totally in the moment. For mother's day we FaceTimed my daughter who just had a baby so my mother could see her new great grandson. We had a pleasant talk for about 15 minutes with oos and aahs of course. Not even 2 minutes after we ended the FaceTime session, my dad said something about the baby and my mother said, "Oh is there a new baby? " I said yes, we just saw them on webcam. And she said, "No we didn't." I think that was the closest I've seen my father in tears over this disease. Is that normal to forget within 1-2 minutes?! I've never seen that on any tv show or movie. It's like we are in a constant loop of Groundhog Day. She can still eat by herself, recognize family, answer the phone, call me but has a hard time walking (due to spinal stenosis probably moreso than the Alzheimer's), can't watch tv or read a book anymore due to lack of interest and focus or recall her granddaughter's wedding 5 years ago. I wonder if this is quality of life and why we fight so hard to keep them "alive" when really they become a shell and we know what the final outcome is, which is cruel. depressed after Mother's Day

NJCinderella,
My mom is right where your mom is. Yes, they can forget their question and your answer as soon as it has been spoken. On Mother's Day I must have answered the questions of how old she is (93) and where do I live (about 20 minutes up the road) about 15 times each. She had just asked me and then asked me again within a 45 second span. It's super difficult to watch (and answer). The "lost" look in her eyes and her telling me that she feels like her brain isn't there anymore, like it's empty space in her head, that she can't think (of anything) and that she can't understand much, is simply heartbreaking. She knows she's declining and wants to die. After explaining why she needs to wait for God's timing, she "zones out" because she can't fathom the concept.
We called her sisters and brothers last week and she had no recollection of the conversations and no recollection of her 2 youngest siblings! She forgot my husband's and my name but recognized our faces. So far, she's eating well feeding herself, uses the bathroom alone but has to have help in the shower and dressing. She sleeps well but is listless, not having the brain function to understand TV or read anymore. I feel so darn bad for her. She was a very well read woman, involved in politics and worked all her life. Now, to this! She knows it's robbing her dignity and I wish that God would be merciful and spare her the completely degrading and humiliating experience of end stage Alzheimer's. She takes no medication that would keep her artificially alive. Her body just doesn't know to quit. Hopefully a cure will be discovered soon.

Here's the Functional Assessment Staging of Alzheimer’s Disease. (FAST)©
STAGE/SKILL LEVEL
Stage 1. No difficulties, either subjectively or objectively.
Stage 2. Complains of forgetting location of objects. Subjective word finding difficulties.
Stage 3. Decreased job function evident to co-workers;
difficulty in traveling to new locations. Decreased organizational capacity.*
Stage 4. Decreased ability to perform complex tasks (e.g., planning dinner for guests), handling personal finances (forgetting to pay bills), difficulty marketing, etc.
Stage 5. Requires assistance in choosing proper clothing to wear for day, season, occasion.
Stage 6a. Difficulty putting clothing on properly without assistance.
b. Unable to bathe properly; e.g., difficulty adjusting bath water temperature) occasionally or more frequently over the past weeks.*
c. Inability to handle mechanics of toileting (e.g., forgets to flush the toilet, does not wipe properly or properly dispose of toilet tissue) occasionally or more frequently over the past weeks.*
d. Urinary incontinence, occasional or more frequent.
e. Fecal Incontinence, (occasional or more frequently over the past week).
Stage 7a. Ability to speak limited to approximately a half dozen different words or fewer, in the course of an average day or in the course of an intensive interview.
b. Speech ability limited to the use of a single intelligible word in an average day or in the course of an interview (the person may repeat the word over and over.
c. Ambulatory ability lost (cannot walk without personal assistance).
d. Ability to sit up without assistance lost (e.g., the individual will fall over if there are no lateral rests [arms] on the chair).
e. Loss of the ability to smile.

This is the most devastating disease. My mom is probably in stage 6. She is in AL. She requires total care with ADL's although she feeds herself sometimes with supervision and cueing. She sleeps most of the time/ day and night. She may answer questions when you ask but will forget what you tell her in a matter of seconds. She thinks my dad ( who passed in 2009) is at work. She does not know where she is. It's very sad. I took dread the time she becomes bedridden and cant move/speak etc. I am an RN and see dementia often. It isnt any easier for me to accept the disease.

My Mom's Dr just started weening her off some of her meds. We have noticed after a week she seems more alert, feeding herself more and better appetite. She still needs lots of help with daily life such as standing, walking, etc. She has been more engaged with us which has been so nice!
It is such an awful disease.

We just became involved with Hospice as my Mom's dr referred her. We were very surprised at first because we thought it was our choice. But now it is a huge relief and they have been out to the house and in touch with my Dad. She will have weekly visits with a nurse, a HHA at least once a week (more if we want), a social worker and wound care nurse checking in. We had a lot of equipment, but they I'll provide so many things. We were told not to wait too long for Hospice, I totally agree! We do not have to take her to dr appts any more. The team is in contact with her dr and will carry out his orders.

My heart goes out to you. My mom is in the last stage of dementia. It breaks my heart to see her this way. Unfortunately my moms condition progressed really fast because of how my sister and her daughter treated her. The main thing to remember is to love them, treat them with respect, talk to them like an adult, do not restrict them from friends or family. Encourage them to keep doing the same things that brought them pleasure before. DO NOT threaten, humiliate, control or tell them what they can or can't do. My sister treated my mom this way and would leave her in her room with very little to no conversation with anybody but her. The anger, fear and abuse pushed her faster into this illness. She still talks to me mainly about how she feels because through all this, she still assumed her role as my mother, at least with me she did. Just love her and believe her and keep her safe. Show her old pictures or take her around friends and act like you forgot what their name is. Exercise her brain. Laughter and happiness are two of the things that I noticed that slowed it down. Wishing you all the best.