How does someone die from Dementia

Summary

This video explains the progression of dementia, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, highlighting its unique 'staircase decline' pattern compared to other diseases. The speaker discusses common causes of rapid health decline in dementia patients, such as falls and infections like UTIs and aspiration pneumonia. The narrative then shifts to the end stages of dementia, describing them as generally peaceful, with patients often becoming less agitated and more restful. Care tips for loved ones, including cleanliness, safety, and comfort, are emphasized, alongside advice on preventing skin breakdown and supporting caregivers by offering help and respite.

Takeaways

• 📚 Dementia, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, progresses in a 'staircase decline' with periods of stability followed by sudden deteriorations often triggered by falls or infections.
• 🦠 Infections such as UTIs (urinary tract infections) and aspiration pneumonia are common causes of sudden health declines in dementia patients.
• 🚨 Fall prevention and infection control are crucial in managing the health of someone with dementia, aiming to maintain cleanliness and safety.
• 😷 Many with dementia eventually experience a gradual progression where they stop eating and drinking, leading to a natural death phase.
• 💤 The end-of-life stage for dementia patients is often peaceful, characterized by increased sleep and a decrease in confusion and restlessness.
• 🚑 Caregivers should focus on keeping the dementia patient clean, safe, and comfortable as primary goals of care.
• 📚 Skin breakdown and pressure wounds are common in later stages due to prolonged bed rest, requiring vigilant care and prevention efforts.
• 🤦 Regularly checking for signs of skin issues, such as redness or pressure sores, and repositioning the patient can help prevent further damage.
• 🙌 Offering support to caregivers, such as giving them breaks or assisting with patient care, is a valuable form of help.
• 💻 Accepting help from others is crucial for caregivers to maintain their own well-being and continue providing effective care.

Q & A

What are the common causes of death in individuals with dementia?

Common causes of death in individuals with dementia include infections like urinary tract infections (UTIs) and aspiration pneumonia, or a gradual progression of the disease leading to a natural death characterized by cessation of eating and drinking.

How does dementia progression differ from cancer progression?

Dementia progression is often described as a staircase decline, where patients experience a decline to a new plateau after an event like a fall or infection, unlike the steep decline observed in many types of cancer.

What are the key preventive measures for individuals with dementia?

Key preventive measures include fall prevention and infection prevention, focusing on keeping the individual clean and safe.

What happens during the actively dying phase of dementia?

During the actively dying phase of dementia, individuals often experience a very peaceful period characterized by mostly sleeping and not eating or drinking.

Why is confusion and agitation less common in the final stages of dementia?

Confusion, agitation, and restlessness, common in the early stages of dementia, are usually not present in the final stages. In the end, individuals are typically more peaceful and sleep more.

What is the caregiver's role in the late stages of dementia?

The caregiver's role in the late stages of dementia is to ensure their loved one is clean, safe, and comfortable, focusing on basic needs and comfort care.

Why might individuals with dementia become bed bound, and what are the consequences?

Individuals with dementia might become bed bound due to the severe debilitation caused by the disease's progression, leading to potential skin breakdown and pressure wounds due to constant pressure on certain body parts.

How can caregivers prevent skin breakdown in bed bound dementia patients?

Caregivers can prevent skin breakdown by regularly checking for redness, turning the patient to relieve pressure points, and using pillows to float the heels and other strategies to minimize pressure on vulnerable areas.

How can people support caregivers of individuals with dementia?

People can support caregivers by offering breaks, providing companionship to the patient, and bringing necessities like food or coffee to the caregiver, as well as encouraging caregivers to accept help.

What should caregivers do if they notice early signs of skin breakdown in their loved ones?

If early signs of skin breakdown are noticed, such as redness on pressure points, caregivers should monitor the area closely and adjust the patient's position regularly to alleviate pressure and prevent further damage.

Outlines

00:00

🧠 Understanding the Progression of Dementia and End of Life

This paragraph explains the progression of dementia, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. Dementia follows a staircase decline, with plateaus followed by sudden declines, usually due to infections or falls. The end stages of dementia are often peaceful, with the person sleeping most of the time and gradually stopping eating and drinking, leading to a natural death. The key is to keep the person clean, safe, and comfortable throughout the progression.

05:02

🚿 Preventing Skin Breakdown and Caregiver Support

This paragraph discusses the importance of preventing skin breakdown, which is common in bedridden individuals with dementia due to prolonged pressure on certain areas of the body. It provides tips for identifying early signs of skin breakdown, such as redness on the buttocks, heels, and shoulder blades. Caregivers should regularly reposition the person and use pillows to relieve pressure. The paragraph also emphasizes the need for caregivers to accept help when offered, as caring for a loved one with dementia can be physically and emotionally demanding. Friends and family should offer to provide breaks for the caregiver and support them with food, coffee, or simply their presence.

Keywords

💡Dementia

Dementia refers to a group of diseases characterized by a decline in mental abilities, including memory, reasoning, and communication skills. In the context of the video, dementia is described as a progressive and horrific disease that affects individuals in different ways, such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. The video explains that dementia leads to a gradual and staircase-like decline in cognitive function, with sudden drops in health often caused by infections or falls.

💡Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's disease is a specific type of dementia mentioned in the video. It is a brain disorder that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills, making it increasingly difficult for individuals to perform everyday activities. The video notes that Alzheimer's disease, along with other forms of dementia like Parkinson's disease, will progress in a similar manner, with a staircase-like decline in cognitive abilities.

💡Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson's disease is another type of dementia mentioned in the video. It is a progressive neurological disorder that affects movement and often leads to cognitive impairment and dementia in its later stages. The video groups Parkinson's disease with other forms of dementia, stating that they will all follow a similar pattern of gradual decline in mental and physical abilities.

💡Hospice

Hospice is a type of care and philosophy that focuses on providing comfort and support for individuals with terminal illnesses, rather than attempting to cure the disease. In the context of the video, hospice is mentioned as a common resource for individuals with advanced dementia. The video states that individuals with dementia may reach a point where they become appropriate for hospice care as their health declines and their cognitive abilities deteriorate.

💡Infection

Infections, such as urinary tract infections (UTI) and aspiration pneumonia, are mentioned in the video as potential causes of sudden declines in health for individuals with dementia. Aspiration pneumonia, in particular, is described as a common issue when individuals with dementia inhale small food particles into their lungs. The video emphasizes the importance of preventing infections, as they can lead to steep declines in the health of individuals with dementia.

💡Fall Prevention

Fall prevention refers to strategies and actions taken to reduce the risk of falls for individuals with dementia. The video highlights fall prevention as a crucial aspect of caring for individuals with dementia, as falls can lead to sudden and significant declines in health. The video advises caregivers to prioritize keeping their loved ones safe and preventing falls as much as possible.

💡Actively Dying Phase

The actively dying phase refers to the final stage of life for individuals with terminal illnesses, including dementia. In the context of the video, the actively dying phase is described as a period when individuals with dementia may stop eating and drinking, leading to a natural and peaceful death. The video notes that the confusion and agitation often seen in earlier stages of dementia are typically not present during this final phase, as individuals are mostly sleeping and comfortable.

💡Caregiver

A caregiver is an individual who provides care and support for someone who is ill, disabled, or elderly. In the video, caregivers are mentioned as playing a crucial role in caring for individuals with dementia. The video emphasizes the importance of keeping individuals with dementia clean, safe, and comfortable, and advises caregivers to accept help from others to avoid burnout and ensure they can continue providing quality care.

💡Skin Breakdown

Skin breakdown, also known as pressure ulcers or bedsores, refers to areas of damaged skin caused by prolonged pressure on certain body parts. In the context of the video, skin breakdown is mentioned as a common issue for individuals with dementia who become bedridden. The video advises caregivers to regularly check for redness or signs of skin breakdown, particularly in areas like the buttocks, heels, and shoulder blades, and to take steps to relieve pressure and prevent further skin damage.

💡Peaceful Death

A peaceful death is a concept mentioned in the video when discussing the final stages of dementia. The video states that while dementia is a progressive and difficult disease, the actively dying phase for individuals with dementia is often very peaceful. During this phase, individuals are typically sleeping most of the time and not eating or drinking, leading to a natural and tranquil passing away.

Highlights

Dementia is a horrific disease with a progressive, staircase-like decline, where the person experiences plateaus followed by sudden declines often due to infections or falls.

UTIs (urinary tract infections) and aspiration pneumonia (inhaling food particles into the lungs) are two common causes of steep declines in dementia patients.

Fall prevention and infection prevention are crucial for dementia care.

Dementia patients may die from an event like aspiration pneumonia, but more commonly, they die from the gradual progression of the disease, eventually stopping eating and drinking.

Dementia patients often have a peaceful death, sleeping most of the time without agitation or restlessness.

The key things to focus on in dementia care are keeping the patient clean, safe, and comfortable.

Skin breakdown and pressure wounds are common issues in bedridden dementia patients.

Caregivers should regularly check for redness on pressure points like the buttocks, heels, and shoulder blades, and take steps to relieve pressure.

Offer help to dementia caregivers by being there, giving them breaks, and bringing food or coffee.

Dementia caregivers should accept help when offered, to allow themselves respite and self-care.

Dementia causes a staircase decline, with periods of plateau followed by sudden drops in health often due to infections or falls.

Watching someone slowly decline and deteriorate over time is a very difficult aspect of dementia care.

Dementia patients may experience restlessness and agitation in the early stages, but not typically in the actively dying phase.

Skin breakdown is a common issue in bedridden dementia patients due to constant pressure on the body.

Caregivers can help prevent skin breakdown by regularly turning and repositioning the patient, and using pillows to relieve pressure on bony areas.

Transcripts

how does someone actually die from

dementia in this video I'm going to be

talking about how dementia actually

progresses what causes death and then

how can you help as the

caregiver when I say dementia

specifically I'm talking about all types

of dementia Alzheimer's disease even

Parkinson's disease yes they are all

different and they all will look a

little different but in general all of

those diseases will fit into what I'm

about to say in this video dementia is a

horrific disease we all know this it

does carry a different progression

especially in the hospice world so with

certain types of cancers I see a big

steep slope progression they decline

usually very quickly with diseases like

dementia Alzheimer's Parkinson's they

have a staircase decline meaning they

are meeting a new Plateau they're living

right here with this new normal and then

suddenly something happens it's usually

a fall or some kind of infection a UTI

or aspiration pneumonia when this

happens their health will deine and

they'll be down here and they'll be at a

new normal where they seem like oh my

gosh is this it or or they may even seem

like they're appropriate for hospice at

this time just depends and then slowly

but surely whether they're on hospice or

not they usually will creep back up and

they won't Plateau back out where they

were they'll Plateau like around here

somewhere right so there is some Decline

and it turns into the slow stairway

decline which can be really difficult

because watching someone slowly Decline

and slowly deteriorate slowly change

over time it's just really hard to watch

and care for someone like that so the

two things I said that can cause that

steep decline at first are usually

infections so a UTI which is a urinary

tract infection or aspiration pneumonia

which is when you inhale little food

particles into your lungs which can

happen a lot with people with this with

these diseases two things that are

important to think about during these

times would be fall prevention and

infection prevention best you can

keeping this person clean and keeping

this person safe by preventing Falls

people ask me all the time what do

people with dementia actually die from

there's a couple things sometimes it's

an event like I said they have

aspiration pneumonia and they decline so

much they will actually die from the

infection but the one I see more

commonly is the slow gradual progression

of dementia where they eventually end up

on hospice and they eventually stop

eating and drinking and then they have

this natural death they're dying from

the disease of dementia but the disease

of dementia makes them stop eating and

drinking which essentially causes them

to go into the actively dying phase I

will say out of all the disease diseases

that I see people dying from dementia

like I said is Progressive and difficult

the because it's the whole duration of

this person's life 10 15 years but I

will say the end of dementia during the

actively dying phases is usually very

very peaceful you will mostly see your

loved one sleeping all the time and not

eating and drinking sleeping all the

time and not eating and drinking and

this does lead to a very peaceful death

so the thing that's surprising to a lot

lot of people is that confusion and

agitation and restlessness that happens

a lot in the beginning stages of

dementia is not really present at the

end every once in a while people with

dementia will be in the actively dying

phase and be restless and agitated but I

would say nine times out of 10 the

agitation the restlessness the confusion

is gone at the very very end and the

person is usually just sleeping and

peaceful how can you help your loved one

with dementia the biggest thing I always

say is keep them clean safe and

comfortable those can be difficult

things to do but if you are doing them

and you ask yourself is my loved one

clean are they safe are they comfortable

you're good you don't need to do

anything else in that moment what are

some things you can look out for because

skin breakdown is one thing I do see a

lot with dementia Alzheimer's

Parkinson's why do we see it it's

usually because they eventually become

so debilitated they are bed bound when

you're bed bound you are laying down a

lot and there's pressure points on your

body that can get pressure wounds one

thing to remember is you can care for

your loved one the best possible way you

can you can do all the things I'm

telling you to do and they still might

get pressure wounds this does not mean

you're taking bad care of them this is

just the nature of the Beast sometimes

so let me show you some things to look

out for so you can kind of catch these

things early the best thing you can can

do each time you change your loved one

if they're bed bound would be to check

for redness and I'm going to show you

some pictures now to show you what the

redness might look like it's usually on

the buttock or the upper part of the

butt you'll see some redness the heels

are a big place where you might see

redness shoulder blades it really

depends you just want to check the whole

back side of their body usually now if

you do start seeing these little pink or

red areas

it's okay it's to be expected but just

keep an eye on that area and the best

thing you can do is turn them when you

think of it throughout the day take them

off the pressure point a little pillow

underneath the butt you want to float

the heels if you can with the pillow so

they're not touching the bed little

things like that will go a long way in

helping skin breakdown if you know

someone who is a caregiver and you want

ways to be of service to this person

people always ask me how can I help my

aunt who's the caregiver for my uncle or

for my neighbor who I know is caring for

their mom how can I help ask first off

offer to be there you know hey can I

give you a break I'm happy to sit with

your loved one for a couple hours while

you go get coffee or go get food or go

walk around the neighborhood something

offer to be there offer to give them a

break show up with coffee show up with

food just show up for this person and if

you are the main caregiver you need to

accept the help I think it's so easy for

people to go no no no or they're not

going to know how to do it or it's okay

I can't leave no this is the time to

accept help if you are having people ask

how can I help you tell them tell them

you need to take breaks so you can care

for yourself

[Music]

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