From: hound23x@gmail.com   
      
   What Is It Like to Die of Dementia?   
      
      
   By Angela Morrow, RN, Dying, Funerals & Grief Expert   
   Updated May 30, 2014.    
      
   Written or reviewed by a board-certified physician. See About.com's Medical   
   Review Board.   
      
   Question: What Is It Like to Die of Dementia?   
      
   Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia are cruel diseases that   
   progress over time and eventually will lead to death. Alzheimer's disease is   
   the seventh leading cause of death in the United States. What can you expect   
   at the end of life if you or    
   a loved one has dementia?   
      
   Answer:   
      
   Dementia is a progressive disease that affects the brain. Early stages of   
   dementia may show up as memory problems, confusion, and sundowning. As   
   dementia progresses, changes are seen in the basic ways the brain functions. A   
   patient's personality changes,    
   basic motor functions are impaired, and the ability to communicate decreases.   
      
   Continue Reading Below   
      
   Learn more about the Various Types and Causes of Dementia   
      
   Late-Stage Dementia Symptoms   
      
   A person with dementia may follow a fairly predictable pattern of decline   
   through the seven stages of dementia. Once dementia has progressed to   
   late-stage, death can generally be expected in 6 months to 1 year. Symptoms of   
   late-stage dementia include:   
      
   Increased incidence of infections, such as urinary tract infections or   
   pneumonia   
   Impaired motor functions including difficulty walking and moving, causing the   
   individual to be bed- or chair-bound   
   Incontinence of bowel and bladder leading to full dependence on others for   
   toileting and hygiene   
   Loss of the ability to communicate through words   
   Difficulty swallowing and eating, leading to weight loss and aspiration   
   pneumonia   
   Loss of facial expression, including the ability to smile   
   Eventual inability to sit up or hold up one's head without assistance.   
   Continue Reading Below   
      
   Read more about The Seven Stages of Alzheimer's   
      
   See Also: 8 Common Causes of Dementia   
      
   Death from Late-Stage Dementia   
      
   Many individuals with late-stage dementia die of a medical complication, such   
   as pneumonia or another infection. However, dementia itself can be fatal.   
   General wasting, malnutrition, and dehydration are real risks when an   
   individual with dementia can no    
   longer eat safely and move independently.   
      
   Palliative Care for Late-Stage Dementia   
      
   Palliative care is available and highly encouraged for individuals with   
   late-stage dementia. Hospice care, in particular, can provide care to an   
   individual in their own home environment and manage all distressing symptoms   
   without prolonging an inevitable    
   death.   
      
      
      
   http://dying.about.com/od/neurological/f/What-Should-I-Expect-Wh   
   n-Dying-From-Dementia.htm   
      
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