How do you know what stage of dementa a patient is in? 96 year old mom is losing reality.

My understanding is that not all dementia has stages and a lot of the stage diagnosis is a guessing job. I think that you need to get her checked and decide for yourself how much care you can provide and if she is beyond what you can or will provide, find a good facility to ensure that she is safe.

It is the worst disease I have ever seen. So many unknowns.

I am following this. I have asked many doctors, MC administrator's and more. So far no one has an answer for me.

As people reach extreme old age, my understanding is that bits of the brain shrink or lose the connections that keep perceptions and reactions 'normal'. Vision, hearing, speech and memory can all be affected. The chances are that without the medication your mother is probably taking, she might already have died. If this is the situation, there is nothing you can do, really.

Showie, here is an excellent article about the stages of Alzheimer's/Dementia. https://www.agingcare.com/articles/stages-of-alzheimers-disease-118964.htm

I also agree with Isthisrealyreal and AlvaDeer about having your Mom checked by her primary doctor or even urgent care, to see if she has an urinary Tract Infection.

I agree with IsThisRealyReal, that first thing is to check the U/A. Once you know this isn't a urinary tract infection, the staging thing is for the experts, the doctors. I am assuming you have a diagnosis of sorts from her doc/ the only way you can guess at the "stage" is that way.

If this is sudden behavior she may have a urinary tract infection and that can increase dementia symptoms or increase confusion and cause delusions.

Has she seen a doctor recently? I would get her seen by a geriatric doctor to find out what is going on.