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First
Stage 2 - 4 years leading up to and including diagnosis:
Symptoms:
-
Recent
Memory loss begins to affect job performance
-
Confusion
about places - gets lost on way to work.
-
Loses
spontaneity, becomes withdrawn, disinterested
-
Mood/personality
changes - becomes anxious about symptoms, avoids people.
-
Poor
judgment - makes bad decisions.
-
Takes
longer with routine chores
-
Trouble
handling money, paying bills.
Examples:
-
Forgets
which bills are paid and phone numbers that are called frequently.
-
Loses
things. Forgets grocery list.
-
Arrives
at wrong time or place, or constantly rechecks calendar or clock.
Second
Stage 2 - 10 years after diagnosis (longest stage):
Symptoms:
-
Increasing
memory loss and confusion - shorter attention span.
-
Problems
recognizing close friends and/or family.
-
Repetitive
statements and/or movements.
-
Restless,
especially in late afternoon and at night.
-
Occasional
muscle twitches or jerking.
-
Perceptual-motor
problems
-
Difficulty
organizing thoughts, or thinking logically.
-
Can't
find right words - makes up stories to fill in the blanks.
-
Problems
with reading, writing, and numbers.
-
May
be suspicious, irritable, fidgety, teary, or silly.
-
Loss
of impulse control - sloppy - won't bathe or afraid to bathe - trouble
dressing.
-
Gains
and then loses weight.
-
May
see or hear things that are not there.
-
Needs
full-time supervision.
Examples:
-
Can't
remember visits even though the visitor just left.
-
Mixes
up day and night, may get up and wander.
-
Difficulty
getting into a chair, setting the table for a meal.
-
Can't
follow written signs, write name, add or subtract.
-
May
accuse spouse of hiding things, infidelity, or childish behavior.
-
May
undress at inappropriate times or in wrong place.
-
Forgets
when last meal was eaten, may gradually lose interest in food.
Third/terminal
stage 1 - 3 years
Symptoms:
-
Can't
recognize family or self in mirror.
-
Loses
weight even with good diet.
-
Little
capacity for self care. Can't communicate with words.
-
May
put anything in mouth or touch anything.
-
Can't
control bowels or bladder
-
May
have seizures, experience difficulty with swallowing, skin infections.
Examples:
-
Looks
in mirror and talks to own image.
-
Needs
total care with bathing, dressing, eating and toileting
-
May
groan, scream or make grunting noises.
-
Sleeps
more, becomes comatose, eventually dies.
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© Gwyther, Lisa P.
ACSW, "Care of Alzheimer’s Patients: A Manual for
Nursing Home staff." Page 25-27, 1985. Published by The Alzheimer’s
Association and the American Health Care Association. Member, Committee on
Patient and Family Services Alzheimer’s Association. Director, Duke Family
Support Program, Center for Aging, Duke University Medical Center
Return
to the Stages of Alzheimer's
Disease
Return
to the Three Stages of Caregiving
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