Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease, meaning its symptoms will worsen over time. Because the stages of Alzheimer’s range from practically no definitive symptoms to clearly detectable personality changes and loss of most cognitive functions, here’s some information about each stage so families of seniors with Alzheimer’s know how to best prepare for future care needs.
Early Stages
The early stages of Alzheimer’s are characterized by minor memory-related issues, such as misplacing keys or forgetting a few things here and there. Because the early stages often only involve occasional forgetfulness that could be associated with the normal aging process, family members and friends can easily overlook the warning signs of the disease. Even during a medical examination, it can be difficult to diagnose vague symptoms as Alzheimer’s.
Mild Cognitive Decline
As the early stages of Alzheimer’s progress, friends, family, and coworkers may notice a person failing to remember names or forgetting to do certain tasks. A doctor will typically conduct a detailed interview to confirm memory and concentration problems, making an attempt to rule out other possible causes before making a diagnosis.
Mid-Stage Alzheimer’s
At this point, memory issues are more pronounced, and a person with Alzheimer’s may become moody and socially withdrawn, have trouble sleeping, or have difficulty completing tasks like planning a dinner or paying bills. Assistance from family members or a caregiver may be required for daily tasks such as going to the bathroom and eating.
If your senior loved one has been diagnosed with a serious condition and needs help with tasks like meal prep, transportation, bathing, and grooming, reach out to Home Care Assistance, a leading provider of senior home care families can trust. We also offer comprehensive care for seniors with dementia, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s.
Late-Stage Alzheimer’s
During the advanced stages of Alzheimer’s, seniors frequently lose any awareness of what’s going on around them. In the late stages of the disease, seniors need assistance with practically all functions along with constant supervision to prevent common symptoms of late-stage Alzheimer’s, such as sundowning and wandering.
Caring for a senior loved one can be challenging for families who don’t have expertise or professional training in home care, but this challenge doesn’t have to be faced alone. Family caregivers can turn to Edmonton Home Care Assistance for the help they need. We provide high-quality live-in and respite care as well as comprehensive Alzheimer’s, dementia, stroke, and Parkinson’s care.
Finding Care for Each Stage of Alzheimer’s
It’s difficult to place a senior in any one stage, since stages sometimes overlap, with some individuals having good days with little or no difficulty and days when symptoms are more noticeable. While families may be able to provide some assistance in the early stages, at some point, the complex care needs of a senior with Alzheimer’s will likely require help from a trained professional Alzheimer’s caregiver.
If your elderly loved one is living with Alzheimer’s and needs help managing the symptoms, turn to Home Care Assistance, a leading provider of Alzheimer’s care. Edmonton seniors can rely on our revolutionary Cognitive Therapeutics Method (CTM), an activities-based program that promotes cognitive health and delays the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. CTM also encourages seniors to engage with others in an enjoyable way and helps them build new routines to look forward to. To schedule a free in-home consultation, give us a call at (780) 490-7337 today.