Towards the end of dementia, it becomes quite evident that the sick may not survive for long. Knowing the signs that show a patient with dementia is actually dying can be very helpful to family members and caretakers. With this blog we wil be discussing all about what is dementia, symptoms, and ways in which a patient who suffers from the disease will ultimately raise their last sign.
Dementia is the general term that describes impairments in cognitive function of memory, thinking, and some processes such as judgment and decision-making. It is caused by several diseases that affect the brain, which include Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, and frontotemporal dementia.
Dementia surely differs from one person to another, and symptoms can sometimes worsen over time. But do dementia patients know they are dying when the time is close? Before discussing that let’s see some common symptoms of dementia:
As dementia progresses, these symptoms become more severe, impacting the person's quality of life and independence.
Recognizing the signs of nearing death in dementia patients can help caregivers provide compassionate support and prioritize comfort. Here are ten signs that may indicate a person with dementia is approaching the end of life.
Advanced dementia often results in reduced communication from the patient. He will become almost mute, unable to verbalize thoughts or needs. Normally, responses could consist only of facial movement or other small gestures. Such communication problems prevent the patient from being able to communicate with others or even to complain about his discomfort, so monitoring those non-verbal cues becomes necessary.
Extreme tiredness is one of the symptoms experienced by most terminal dementia patients. They often spend most of their time sleeping or resting and will find it extremely challenging to wake up. With the body no longer conserving energy, it loses interest in its surroundings. The signs that the body is shutting down include increased sleep and a lack of interest in activities. Professional staff at dementia care facilities can alert the family members of the elderly in time if it keeps on repeating.
Towards the end, the appetite decreases significantly. This is a point in which the interest in food or drink perhaps gradually fades until there is no interest in the meal at all. This results in much weight loss and frailty. The body eventually becomes inefficient in digesting food, which is part of the process of dying.
As the immune system weakens, a person with advanced dementia may be more susceptible to infections, such as pneumonia or urinary tract infections. These infections can recur frequently despite treatment. The body becomes less able to fight off infections, indicating a significant decline in health.
In the final stages of dementia, mobility often deteriorates to the point where the individual becomes bedridden. They may no longer be able to stand, sit up, or move independently. Muscle weakness and stiffness become prominent, and they may need full assistance with any movement, such as turning in bed.
As the disease advances, and swallowing difficulties become more profound. A patient will have difficulty eating and drinking, and the act of swallowing food increases their risk of choking. This results in dehydration and malnutrition, which can be interpreted as the body shutting down. Staff at dementia care units can help patients in avoiding such issues on first hand and if something goes severely wrong they can take them to hospital.
Alterations in respiration are common in the active dying process. These may be labored or shallow breathing, long pauses between breaths, or a pattern called Cheyne-Stokes respiration, which consists of periods of rapid breaths followed by pauses. The perception of irregular breathing is generally one of systems shutting down in the body.
There may also be paleness, coolness, or even mottling of the skin as circulation declines. The extremities often appear bluish or purplish due to cyanosis and hence are an indicator that blood flow is slowing down. Skin feels cold, particularly on the hands and feet.
In the final stages, the body no longer requires the same amount of nutrition and hydration. The person may refuse food and drink entirely, which can be distressing for caregivers at dementia care facilities. Reduced intake is natural at this stage as the body gradually stops processing food and fluids.
A person nearing the end of their life experiences a decline in responsiveness to external stimuli. They do not respond to voices or touch, among other activities. Periods of unconsciousness increase, and they often go semi-conscious. In some cases, they may enter a coma-like state in the last days or hours. This reduced responsiveness means the body is very close to the end of life.
It progresses to such an extent that patients cannot talk much, easily get exhausted, lose weight, contract infections readily, and eventually become bedridden. During the final stages of progression, the patient would have difficulty swallowing and rapid or labored breathing, as well as a change in skin color.
Intake of food and fluids would also be reduced, and the patient's consciousness would be below normal levels. Some dementia care facilities provide palliative support to reduce distress, decrease pain, and relieve the psychological burden on the patient and the family. This sort of awareness would equip families with the ability to care sensitively and with goals towards a good quality of life.
