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My wife was diagnosed with it six years ago. We moved to an assisted living facility about four years ago. I’m older than my wife and wanted her to be cared for her should I pass first, which I feel will happen. She has done well mentally up until about 6 months ago or so. I’ve noticed quite a change-deterioration-coming on. Could she be moving into the first part of the last stage of EOD? What to expect? I know it differs from person to person.

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I appreciate and thank all of you for your replies. Lots of good advice I’ll follow up on.
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Reply to OldDuffer
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Please discuss your wife with her doctor. He/she will know your wife's case better than a forum of strangers. People with dementia are as individual as their own fingerprints; the future is always impossible to predict, but stages you can expect will occur are well outlined on the internet. Choose trusted good sites such as those run by the Alzheimer's.org groups and nih.gov.
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Reply to AlvaDeer
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No experience from me, I would recommend looking at the Alzheimers.org website for information about stages and what to look for even if that’s not the specific dementia your wife has, it’s a good resource for educating yourself more. And if no one has told you, your wife is blessed to have your love and care
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Reply to Daughterof1930
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Thank you funkygrandma59 and Geaton777 for your replies. I’ll try to give you more info.
First off, I joined this forum about 6 years ago as hallah but only looked in once in a while after moving to an AFL. Now I’m on here as OldDuffer.
That was right after my wife was tested and diagnosed, as the doctors told me, with early on-set dementia. That’s the term they called her dementia. They said expect it to last maybe 12 to 15 years. She was 64 at that time. I’m 13 years older than her. She’s now 70 and I’m 83. My daughter (her step-daughter) plus a good friend from church talked me into moving to an AFL. I already knew I needed help but was putting it off. Thanks to them we are better now than trying to make it at the house.
The facility we live in does have memory care accommodations. The nursing staff is great. I’m her care-giver, my God-given gift. I did respite care with hospice some years back and am thankful for the training I had through them.
Questions? Ask away.
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KNance72 Sep 6, 2025
I don't think anyone has the answers . Let her doctor know your concern so when it's time to get hospice on Board . I wish you both well .
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Early onset Alzheimer's typically starts when one is in their 50's and can go on for 20+ years, so your wife may have a ways to go yet if that is what she was diagnosed with.
And if she has now had dementia for 6 years she is no longer in the "early" part of it but is now getting well into it, but probably not in the late stages.
I'm glad to hear that you are both now in an assisted living facility, so if by chance you do go first your wife will be where she needs to be. And hopefully this facility also has a memory care for when your wife gets really bad.
Alzheimer's is the slowest progressing of all of the dementias, and can go on for 20+ years, where vascular dementia is the most aggressive with a life expectancy of just 5 years, and Lewy Body dementia is the second most aggressive with a life expectancy of 5-7 years. So you can see depending on what type of dementia your wife has(and you can have more than one kind too)will depend on how quickly her dementia progresses and how quickly she will leave this world for the next.
Dementia sucks no matter what kind one has, and it is hard on all involved.
I wish you the very best as you travel this very difficult road with your wife.
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Reply to funkygrandma59
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How old is she? Does she have Alzheimer's? Or some other form of dementia?

I know 2 people who had early onset ALZ: one got diagnosed in her mid to late 50s and lived another 15 yrs. The other was finally diagnosed at 68. She just turned 71 and is already in hospice, not opening her eyes but aware of her surroundings. They were both physically very healthy women with no other medical issues.

I'm not sure how much into her future you should try to look... it's different for everyone.

I'm so sorry both of you are having to experience this... more information would be helpful.
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