Assisted Living Frequently Asked Questions » Information
My husband was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease yesterday. In retrospect, I knew all along there was something wrong. What concerns me is that I was told that he’s in the “middle stages” of the disease. What does this mean?
This is the longest and much more visible stage of the disease. Clinicians tell us that this period lasts from two to ten or more years. During this stage a person experiences decreasing ability to care for themselves, and they don't fit in as well with society as their behaviors become quirky.
It's common for people in the middle stages of dementia to self-isolate. A person with dementia may not necessarily look any different in appearance, but their behaviors cause them to be out of sync with the world around them. A person with dementia feels safer at home in a familiar environment.
Sleeping problems are common with people in the middle stage of the disease. A person may get their days and nights mixed up, or they may have an idea that they need to be somewhere or find something and get up to search for it in the middle of the night. It is common for people in the middle stage to wander about or to get in the car and forget where they are going and why they're there.
At this stage of the disease is when a person is likely to have delusions or experience hallucinations. They may tell you things have happened that couldn't have possibly have happened, and they will be positively convinced that it did, in fact, occur. They may hear things or see things that no one else can.
The disease also causes disruption to a person's ability to walk and causes them to be unsteady on their feet. Parts of the brain that control balance are negatively impacted by Alzheimer's.
People in the middle stages of the disease may do just fine remaining in their own home; or they may need supportive services earlier on in the disease. How the disease affects your husband's brain and therefore his abilities and behaviors will affect how long you will be able to care for him in your home. At times the disease can change rapidly, but in most cases, the decline is gradual. In actuality, it is the gradual decline you need to be most concerned about. Things may change slowly over time, such that you aren't aware of the toll the stress is causing for you personally. You will be a better, long-term support to your husband by making sure you care for yourself first.
Last update: 2007-05-08 01:26
Author: Tech Support
Revision: 1.0
