Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) can be the beginning of a long journey. It is a terminal disease that can last up to 20 years. However, the average life expectancy after being diagnosed with AD is 8-to-10 years. As the disease progresses, the needs of the person with Alzheimer’s will change. AD is categorized into three main stages early (beginning), middle, and late (end). Once a person with AD reaches the end stage, many of the following symptoms can be expected:

• Needs help with daily living activities such as dressing, bathing, etc.
• Difficulty eating
• Difficulty swallowing
• Incontinence of bowel and bladder
• Unable to walk and loss of other motor skills
• Little or no communication
• Susceptible to infection
• Metabolic changes causing weight loss

You may choose a hospice provider to help care for your loved one here at Sycamore Village, where you will be surrounded with support and assistance around the clock. There is no cure for AD, but with the right type of services and support, it is possible to enhance the quality of life and preserve dignity for the person with the end stages of this disease.