What happens to a dementia patient as they approach the end of their life?

I don't think there is a clear cut answer, everyone is different. My Mom suffered from dementia and was in assisted living until she kept suffering recurring UTIs and dehydration. She went into a nursing home (I was hoping the PT would make her stronger and enable her to return to assisted living) and passed away 6 months later. I spent time with her every day and watched as she slowly faded, both in spirit and in body. She got weaker, didn't care about anything, wasn't interested in doing anything. Started losing a lot of weight, developed trouble swallowing. Wanted to stay in bed all the time. She was dx with fluid in her lungs and developed pneumonia, and passed away 2 weeks later.

The brain controls all bodily functions, and as the disease progresses, muscles start to contract, they become bedridden unable to eat and drink as those mechanisms cease to work. Death follows when the respiratory functions cease or heart failure occurs. It is such a horrible disease for loved ones to watch. My mother's anniversary is Jan. 30, 2002, and after 14 yrs. I can still see her lying in bed unable to move.

Quite frankly, with dementia, they do not know they are at the end of life. Mentally they seem to regress to another time and stay there.

as usual , pam stegman dont waste words . muscle wasting is a great indicator of end of life .

Indicators are weight loss, poor appetite and finally refusing food. As long as she wants liquids, good, but eventually she will refuse even that. My MIL had a history of stroke. She was still at the eating phase, although very small portions, when one more stroke hit her during her afternoon nap. She never woke up and passed that night.

Hello. My husband had Alzheimer, one of the most common forms of dementia. You never can foresee when the real end is coming. I visited my husband together with my daughter on wendayafternoon and on fri eve I went with my female colleague for a small snack to a restaurant in her town, about 15 km = approx 10 miles from the nursing home. They called me around 20.30 hrs telling me he was deteriorating rapidly. I was very surprised as on Wednesday, he ate a large piece of cheese cake and afterwards had a fresh beer, all without problems. I called back to the nursing home to tell that I would not be there in 10 mins, as I was not at home. There was a long silence. Then she said : do no hurry, he just passed away. For many months he was laying in bed, did not speak any longer, but could eat very well. For the rest, it was a living plant. It all depends what part of the brains are hit by the disease at a certain moment. If it are the lungs or the heart, then death can go as fast as within the hour, as was the case with my husband. You can not compare dementia with other diseases where you have a better insight when death can effectively be expected / foreseen. Anyway I wish you a lot of strength as heavy days / months are laying ahead of you. But although I was very sad about his death, I also was relieved because all the suffering was over and done with.

Interesting this topic just came up. I asked our Caregiver just this exact question this morning when she came in. Her response was exactly the same as these responses. Thank you. God reaffirmed the Caregiver.

Pamstegma, How will I know she is nearing the end?

I hope you can discuss this question with a hospice or palliative care helper. They should have information you can read also. Dying is a process and it will be comforting for you to know what to see and look for. Even though you may want to give water, for example, it will interfere with the process towards the last days.

Omg Cocobel that is exsclty what happ to my Mom. 2 wks ago to b exact. She had a staghorn stone which caused many utis/severe delirium until it was discovered. She was due fof surgery to remove it but did exaclty as you described. Didn't wanna move, stsyed in bed & slept all day & it was the pneumonia that got her. Still so mad @ that lady!!