Alzheimer

[scoobydoo021166]

I am doing a Dementia course and stuck on a phrase. How would you define level of ability of Alzheimers. Do they mean stages?

[bednobs]

your question does not make sense - no wonder you're stuck!
"level of ability of alzheimers" soes not make sense, level of ability usually refers to a person, not the disease

[DTCwordfan]

yep - and how that translates to what they think, remember andcan do, though there are no clear stages as it is a gradual decline and, as they slide, there are good days and bad days....the good perhaps plus two and the bad minus one. One other thing, the rate of decline can vary with the dementia - look at Terry Pratchett with his fast demise and then there is my mother, now at least six years.....

One of the things to bring out perhaps are the 'life/behaviour changing' triggers - these could include hygiene, toilet, cooking, family recognition, or even violence.....

[scoobydoo021166]

Thank you DTCwordfan. Your answer has helped me a lot

[DTCwordfan]

no prob.....I find a lot of folk need help in understanding which dementia and then the time spans and expectations of changes....and a lot of the support issues need defining for help. Watch this space for my book when I publish it, but only when my mater dies or goes into a home for 'stage 7' (she's in 6 now) - her condition 'mixed' and not just the big A.

[ferlew]

Mr F is about 10 years into this awful disease.
I cared for his mum who also had it. She had it for about 3 years from diagnosis to when she passed away.
My own mother had it too, and I was her carer till the end. Hers lasted two years at the outside.
I think I am trying to say - how long is a piece of string.
These 3 people I have been close to have been very different id how the disease has affected them, and the manner and speed they have gone through it.
My reply is purely from a wife/daughter/carer point of view over a 15 year period.
I really don't think there is any black and white with this, just grey guidelines.