How Fast Can Dementia Progress
When you find out your older loved one has dementia, one of the first questions you may have is how long does it take before it becomes severe. Knowing how fast dementia can progress, can help you make plans for your loved one’s care.
The Progression of Dementia
Many types of dementia exist. They are all progressive.
As the disease progresses, the structure and chemistry of the brain become damaged. This leads to the following:
- Problems with short and long term memory
- Inability to clearly communicate
- Decline in reasoning skills
How fast these effects appear depends on the individual. Each dementia sufferer is unique. The disease progresses depending on factors that no two people share. For example, the rate of progression of dementia often relies upon:
- The physical make-up of the person
- The emotional resilience of the person
- Medication prescribed
- Medical conditions he has had over the years
- The support the person has around him
As dementia progresses, sufferers need more support, especially with daily living skills. Since behavior and mood changes with the later stages of the disease, many family members find it difficult to continue providing care.
What the Progression Looks Like
It may be helpful to view the progression of dementia in stages. It’s only a guide, so it’s possible for people to fall in between two. The following are the three stages: early, middle, and late.
The early stage is usually when loved ones begin to notice some differences in the way the person communicates and remembers things. The middle stage is when a diagnosis has been made and short and long term memory begins to fade, and reasoning and communication are starting to degenerate. The late stages of the disease are when sufferers are at their worst, which means not being able to care for themselves, their health is diminishing, and they no longer can communicate their needs.
The average death expectancy of people with dementia is 8 to 10 years from the time they are diagnosed. Those who are diagnosed during the later stages of dementia die much sooner.
Ashford Assisted Living and Memory Care
The progression of dementia depends on many factors, but support is one of the most important. At Ashford Assisted Living and Memory Care , we take great pride in the high-level support we provide our residents with dementia. We ensure all of our residents receive the physical, mental, and emotional care they need to live as long as possible with their disease.
Contact us today for more information on how we can help your loved one who is suffering from dementia.
