Last stage of Alzheimer's?!
Question:
Last stage of Alzheimer's?
my mam is only 54 and in the last stage of alzhmeimers, she no longer tlks to use and is either in bed or a special chair, what i what to no is why does she cry all the time the doctor is no use and tells us it's part of it but how can crying all the time be normal it has to put some sort of stress on her please help
Answers:
If she is truly in the last stage of Alzheimer's then she is so deep in dementia that she doesn't recognize the differences in her surroundings. She is confined in a little closed off world of confusion, no memory, no physical control. Crying may be the only way she can communicate. And, at this point of the disease, your mam probably doesn't even remember those around her. Tough reality to face but true just the same.
If she is truly in the last stage, the doctor will be of little use. At this point, it is all about quality of life and reducing pain and suffering. When my father was in the last stage, he was taken off his AZ meds because the side effects were worse than the benefits. At this point, they generally show signs of Parkinson's Disease for which they receive treatment.
The best thing we found was eliminating extraneous stimulation, exposing the patient to comfortable surrounds which they are accustomed to. Soothing music which they remembered... TV shows or movies... My father even "danced" with my mother who swung his arms in the air as he lied in bed...
My father passed on after not taking in any food or water for days. From pneumonia which crepted up on him and killed him within a day. A very lonely way to die. But research has shown that prolonged force feeding can generally increase and prolong suffering as the body is no longer processing nutrients and can no longer manage basic bodily functions.
Go to AZ.Org, attend local support groups. It will make this scary and confusing disease a little more bearable.... If/when I show signs of the disease, I will definitely have a DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) order as I do not want to die that way...