What is late stage Alzheimers disease?
The late stage or severe Alzheimer’s disease (AD) involves further progression of the signs and symptoms of early and middle stage AD. It is important to search for correctable conditions, especially when a change is sudden. As severity increases, the person with AD can no longer provide self-care, often requiring help with personal activities of daily living such as dressing, eating and going to the bathroom. Memory is very poor or gone altogether. Ability to communicate and to feel and express appropriate emotions is further diminished or absent. Physical problems increase with incontinence of urine and/or feces, weakness, difficulty chewing and swallowing, and increased susceptibility to infections becoming common. In its end state, individuals may become bedridden or entirely dependent on others for all aspects of their care.
