What kinds of problems arise in the later stages of Alzheimer’s disease?
Persons afflicted with the end stages of Alzheimer’s disease and their families endure many sources of suffering. Alzheimer’s patients in the end stages often have moderate to severe pain, profound weakness, muscle spasms and contractures, choking and difficulty swallowing, incontinence of urine and stool, inability to empty bladder or bowel, weight loss, severe agitation, and severe skin breakdown. The ability to reason and relate to loved ones is lost. Their loved ones suffer chronic grief at the loss of the person they once knew, physical and emotional exhaustion from the burdens of caregiving, distress at witnessing the suffering of the patient, and depletion of income and personal resources. Family caregivers are at increased risk for significant illness and death. The costs to caregivers and society are staggering. The National Institute on Aging estimates that $100 billion/year in direct and indirect costs is spent on caring for patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Unfortunately,
