Alzheimer's Disease Stages
THE "EARLY STAGE"
Alzheimer's disease manifests its symptoms slowly in the early stages. Early-stage Alzheimer's patients may appear healthy and may be able to mask the disease's symptoms.
They include:
Short attention span and poor concentration.
Difficulty making decisions.
Problems with short-term memory. Forgetting recent meals.
(Forgetting names, dates, how things work.)
A personality change, such as becoming cranky, silly, frustrated or quiet.
THE "MIDDLE STAGE"
The middle stage is also known as the Progressive Period.
It may last for up to 12 years. Alzheimer's disease symptoms in the middle stage include all the symptoms of the early stage but have worsened.
These include:
I get lost in familiar places, even when I know where I am.
Speech difficulties-not being able to remember words or participate in a conversation. Talking in circles.
Following people around (also known as shadowing).
Trouble following directions.
THE "LATE STAGE"
Alzheimer's disease can last three or more years in its late stage. These Alzheimer's patients are near death, also called the Terminal Period. In late-stage Alzheimer's disease, patients are often bedridden and at risk for various infections. Symptoms include:
Weight loss.
Loss of balance and ability to walk.
Loss of short and long-term memory.
Loss of speech.
Inability to perform basic skills such as eating or drinking.
Failure to recognize others or even themselves.
Respiratory infections (people with Alzheimer’s disease often die from pneumonia).
Listening to music can IMPROVE one's COMMUNICATION.
In the late stages of Alzheimer's, can a person who has stopped communicating completely regain the ability to speak and have meaningful conversations? Yes, definitely!
Music is the key to unlocking silence.
There is a lot of research being done right now to investigate the benefits of iPods (or other MP3 players) with personalized playlists for people suffering from dementia or Alzheimer's disease. Using personal headphones to listen to preferred music has positively impacted everyone who uses them.
Researchers found that participants in the studies were happier and more social after using headphones. The relationships between staff, residents, and family members were also strengthened. An iPod Shuffle (or similar device) is a good choice since it has few buttons, no display screen, and is easy to operate. Don't have an iPod? Check your children's rooms or Facebook Marketplace; they are inexpensive nowadays. Ask family members to give their loved ones an iPod (or another mp3 player) as a gift or to donate an older model that is no longer in use.
Here's another option. You can play and store music on most smartphones using headphones. Alternatively, you can download free apps like Radio.net or Spotify and stream free music through your phone. Build the playlist in conjunction with the client and/or family members.
Choosing the wrong music can have disastrous results. A padded headphone that rests on the side of the head and around the ears will be more comfortable Small earbuds that go inside the ears are more comfortable.
Is anyone ever fully prepared for the challenges of caring for someone with Alzheimer's or Dementia? To help you with your loved one at home, we created the Alzheimer's Disease Challenge take the Alzheimer's Disease Challenge Today!
"At Ideal Caregivers 4u, we are a close-knit team who rely on each other to ensure our clients receive the highest quality of care."
Subscribe to our monthly Activity Booklet & Newsletter, The dementia Monthly, for people who suffer from Dementia, Alzheimers and Memory Loss.
Every month we email an interactive Activity Booklet & Newsletter called "The dementia Monthly."
Our Activity Booklets feature health topics of the month, colouring pages, word searches, and themed activities for each month!
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