|
Understanding The Stages Of Alzheimer Disease |
By:
Sky Hudgins |
|
|
As a caregiver the more that you understand about the stages of
Alzheimer Disease the better care you can provide for your patient or
family member. During the early stages of Alzheimer Disease most
people will be able to lead lives that are productive and full.
As the disease progresses from one stage to another more symptoms will
start to become evident to the patient and to those people around the
patient. These changes can not be controlled by the patient or by
you, the caregiver.
Damage has been done to the brain which can’t be reversed or
repaired. Over an undetermined period of time the patient’s
dementia will become worse and this means that you’ll have to
adapt the care that you provide to each changing condition. Every
Alzheimer patient will experience different symptoms during the
different stages of the disease.
Alzheimer Disease will typically affect adults who are over the age of
sixty although there are many instances where younger people have been
affected. There are four stages of the disease: the first
stage, the middle stage, the later stage, and the final stage.
During the first stage of Alzheimer Disease the symptoms will be mild
and often difficult to detect. Some of the typical things to look
for include disorientation, forgetfulness, and mood changes that are
unexplained. Some people will lose interest in activities that
they once enjoyed and they may start so spend more time on their own.
During the middle stage of Alzheimer Disease there will be more
incidences of memory problems. Some people will start to show
some difficulty with their language skills. Making decisions will
become difficult, in particular decisions that require logic.
Sleep problems may also start to appear, with the patient sleeping less
and less hours. Most patients will require 24 hour supervision so
that they don’t wander off and get lost.
The later stage of Alzheimer Disease will show an increasing severity
in the above symptoms. Patients often start to confuse the
present with the past. They may forget the names and faces of the
people closest to them. This memory loss extends to places and
events.
Patients in this stage of the disease will be totally dependent on you
as their caregiver and will need help with even the most routine of
activities. Many patients will be confined to their bed and will
stop talking altogether because they no longer have language skills.
The final stages of Alzheimer Disease can be very devastating.
Other medical conditions can set in, which can make Alzheimer Disease
even more difficult to manage. The final stage of this disease
often results in the death of the patient.
|
|
Article Source: http://www.statssheet.com/articles/article53439.html |
|
|
|
|
|
