Disease progression may vary person to person, but patients generally experience seven distinct stages:
Stage 1: Alzheimer’s patients will not know they have the disease as they are fully independent. However, as mentioned before, Alzheimer’s can begin in the brain up to decades before symptoms become noticeable.
Stage 2: Patients will display normal forgetfulness for their age, but the memory of those with Alzheimer’s will decline quicker than those without. Often symptoms at this age are unnoticeable to observers, but they generally include forgetting words or misplacing objects.
Stage 3: This stage lasts about seven years, but symptoms become apparent to those close to the patient around two to four years. Patients may have trouble concentrating or forget things they just read. Some people may have to stop working.
Stage 4: A diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease is now possible. Patients have trouble with some everyday tasks, may forget memories from their personal life, and show limited emotional responses.
Stage 5: This stage lasts 1.5 years and patients need lots of support. They will forget major events, their current address, and can no longer live independently.
Stage 6: Memory is severely impaired to the point where patients will confuse family members, experience personality changes, and become paranoid. They will also need help with personal hygiene, dressing themselves, and eating.
Stage 7: Severe Alzheimer’s has set in and occurs in phases that may last a couple years. Speech will become limited to simple sentences and may decrease to only single recognizable words. Patients may be unable to sit up on their own or hold up their head. Patients essentially become infantile.
Caring for the mind and body is important, but the soul should never be forgotten. At Village Green Memory Care Community, we understand that faith, reflection, and peace play a huge role in the well-being of seniors living with memory challenges. For many residents, spiritual practices bring comfort, strength, and a sense of connection that […]
Memory care is about more than just providing medical support. It is also about creating an environment where residents feel safe, comfortable, and less stressed. At Village Green Memory Care Community, we understand how powerful routine can be in the lives of seniors with memory challenges. A structured day, familiar faces, and predictable activities help […]
Finding the right senior care community is often about more than just healthcare. Families want to know their loved ones are safe, but they also want them to hold on to their independence. At Village Green Memory Care Community, we believe safety and dignity should work hand in hand. Seniors deserve the freedom to enjoy […]
