I have been reading everyones comments on several posts & noticing there are stages opf AD people are talking about can someone please explain them to me as I thought there was only 3.I look forward to hearing from you all xx
Welcome! Look at the top of the page, just under THeAlzheimerSpouseMessageBoards, and find Search. Click on that and choose Comments, and type in stages and you'll find a LOT of discussion. The one from Sunshyne gives (as always) the most detailed list of where you can find the stages - I'll paste it in below here, but remember that they are approximate. NOT cast in stone.
Judi, some people use three stages, most use seven, and some break the final stages of those seven out into sub-stages. The most comprehensive (detailed) list I've seen is at:
The neurologists that we've dealt with at Mayo (and I think this is true for neurology in general) tend to use the three stage classification of mild-moderate-severe. (I'm an optometrist and deal with many older patients with macular degeneration. We use the mild-moderate-severe classification.)
I think the Alz. Association 7 stage classification gives families/caretakers/spouses a better idea of where their LO is on the dementia continuum.
Thanks for the info my DH is in stage 5 going into stage 6.This stuff is so interesting at least when I read your posts now I know what you are saying x
frustratedspouse, most of our LOs were diagnosed either at a very late stage 4 or while they were in stage 5. Frankly without a test for Alzheimer's, which most dementia patients have even when they also have other reasons for dementia, they aren't going to figure out who is demented and who isn't before stage 4.
Yes, a lot of doctors use mild-moderate-severe, but they take it for granted that they are talking to spouses and "daughters" who don't have a clue. If you check some of the back threads there are at least three different sets of standards you can use to figure out where your LO is. And once you know what is really going on, it is so much easier not to get frustrated at their behavior.
And if you look way down on the left on Joan's home page, you'll see there's a person in a lifejacket. Click on the text there and get one of the BEST ways to look at why dementia patients react the way they do to events.
I've looked at these websites and since my HB can fit into most of them except the late stage 7 maybe you can help me... Here are some hilites... He still can dress himself and has no toilet problems.. he can still play his guitar and does remember some of the words in the songs but he doesn't remember a lot of important things that happened in our married life (65 yrs) he says things that happened to him that never did.. he is now not willing to bathe sleeps a lot.. the family notices changes in him but the casual friend does not. Does this sound like stage 5 or what.? I hope it's okay to ask your opinion.
ro - I would put him at middle stage. I and many others here tend to not get hung up in the sub-stages. Too often they fit in more than one. If things are showing up in the late stages but still can do other things you can go late middle stage or something like that.
My hb is stage 4, some of stage 5 since it is his short term memory loss that is the worst. A guy that use to shower daily now maybe twice a week. But this may also have some to do with the difference in RV showers and home showers. He does wear the same clothes for days but so do I. When you have to use the laundromat you watch how much you dirty. but, if he gets his clothes dirty, he will change. Thank goodness he does change underwear daily which is, IMO, the important one.
Also, I don't put too much on the average time frame for each stage. According to that my hb should be further along. It has been over 3 years since diagnosis and there is little change.