What does the last stage of Alzheimer’s look like?

For me taking care of my Husband ...
He no longer walked. This happened about 1 year before he died.
He was non Verbal but had been that way for about 7 years.
The last year or so all his liquids had to be thickened. Started out about the thickens of Nectar and it progresses to Honey thick and then Pudding thick.
All his foods were pureed. Prior to that foods had been finger foods then that progressed to minced then pureed.
He had been incontinent both bowl and bladder for about 5 years prior to his death.
When he became immobile I used a Hoyer Lift to transfer him. When he had been able to support his weight I did use a Sit to Stand to help with transfers but when he was no longer able to support himself I had to begin using a Hoyer Lift.

When he was bedbound keeping him comfortable, repositioning him was important.
He had secretions that made it sound like he was gasping for air.
He slept A LOT. The last year or so he typically would sleep 22 to 23 hours a day. Waking only for a shower then later bed baths were given, sometimes to be changed and to eat.

This all sounds scary.
But it is a natural progression as a person declines.
I was VERY lucky in that I had a phenomenal Hospice Team that gave me all the support and education that I needed along with all the supplies and equipment that I needed to keep him at home, keep him safe and keep me safe.

Hospice Nurse Julie on YouTube has some great information and videos.
If you are at this point I hope you have Hospice helping you. If not call a Hospice of your choice and request an evaluation to see if your loved one would qualify you will both benefit from the Hospice services.

Brandee again--

Both my boyfriend and I have good memories of the last 18 months with Mom. One of Mom's caregiver's suggested that we move Mom's lazyboy from the living room to Mom's bedroom so the caregivers could sit in it there. My boyfriend suggested we move an extra dorm frig to Mom's bedroom. I hung out in the lazyboy listening to relaxing music with sun coming in the windows and watching the tug boats go by on the river. Overall it was pretty relaxing compared to the prior 18 years. I worked on my laptop on the lazyboy while Mom snoozed in bed.

I also enrolled Mom in hospice when she became bedbound during the last 18 months. We got an RN that visited once a week that took a load off of me.

The last stage of Alzheimer's disease, also known as severe dementia, is characterized by a significant loss of cognitive and physical abilities. Individuals in this stage require full-time care, as they lose the ability to communicate, control movement, and may even lose the ability to swallow. They may also experience changes in personality and require assistance with all daily tasks. 

Key Characteristics of Late-Stage Alzheimer's:
Severe Cognitive Decline:
Individuals may lose the ability to speak, understand language, or respond to their environment. 
Loss of Motor Skills:
Difficulty with walking, sitting, and eventually swallowing. Muscles may become rigid and reflexes may be impaired. 
Dependence on Caregivers:
Total assistance with personal care, including eating, dressing, and using the restroom. 
Increased Risk of Infections:
Pneumonia is a common cause of death in late-stage Alzheimer's due to difficulties with swallowing and weakened immune systems. 
Potential for Personality Changes:
Significant shifts in personality and mood may occur as the disease progresses, according to the Alzheimer's Association. 
Care Considerations:
Focus on Comfort and Dignity:
Care should prioritize comfort, pain management, and maintaining quality of life. 
Stimulate the Senses:
Gentle touch, soothing music, and familiar scents can provide comfort. 
Communication:
While verbal communication may be limited, individuals may still respond to facial expressions, gestures, and tone of voice. 
Palliative Care:
Palliative care focuses on relieving suffering and improving quality of life for individuals with life-limiting conditions like late-stage Alzheimer's. 
Important Note: The progression and specific symptoms of late-stage Alzheimer's can vary from person to person. It's crucial to work closely with healthcare professionals and caregivers to develop an individualized care plan.

Hello, All: hope this information will help. Slow death from Alzheimer's is scary and horrible. The victim declines slowly to complete dependence on others. Care in a memory care facility is very expensive. Please pray for those victims and their loved ones!

I see an incomplete FYI sharing, but find more here at:

https://www.verywellhealth.com/ what-is-it-like-to-die-of-dementia-1132331

Dementia Guide 
10 Signs Death Is Near When a Person Has Dementia

By Angela Morrow, RN Updated on June 28, 2025
 Medically reviewed by Smita Patel, DO
Table of Contents
Late-Stage Dementia
Signs Death Is Near
Symptoms by Type
Causes of Death
Managing Dementia Care
Next in Dementia Guide
10 Things People With Dementia Wish You Knew
Knowing what to expect can help when your loved one has late-stage dementia. The death of your loved one can be a hard concept to wrap your head around and accept, but it's important to understand what's coming in the future so you can prepare emotionally and practically.
Jump to Key Takeaways.


Verywell / Cindy Chung
What Does Late-Stage Dementia Look Like?
One day, your loved one with dementia will reach the late stage of dementia. This stage is also called end-stage dementia or advanced dementia. In this stage, symptoms become severe. A person with dementia will follow a typical pattern of decline, but the pace at which the person reaches that stage will vary.
For example, someone with Alzheimer's disease may at first struggle to remember new information. Names, events, or recent conversations are no longer easy to recall. Planning or completing usual tasks might become difficult.

1.As the disease progresses, a person can frequently become confused and disoriented. They might have trouble communicating (both speaking and writing) and understanding complex information. Poor judgment and withdrawal from activities they once enjoyed are also common.
2.In late-stage dementia, a person will have problems with everyday functions. These include bathing, dressing, eating, and going to the bathroom. At this point, your loved one might not be able to communicate and may seem unaware of their surroundings. They will become bedbound and need care all the time.
3.They may also lose the ability to speak and show facial expressions, like smiling. This change can be especially challenging for loved ones to see.

It's important to note that there are different types of dementia. The patterns of symptoms vary due to the specific brain changes that occur in each type.
Signs Death Is Approaching
In the period of time leading up to the end of life, an individual with dementia may show signs that they are nearing death. They may:
4. Have more infections
Experience more medical complications
Move around less/be unable to move without help
Become very frail and fall more often
Have trouble swallowing
Have problems eating and drinking
Be unable to speak or speak with single (sometimes meaningless) words or sentences
Have difficulty showing facial expressions
Experience bowel and bladder incontinence
Sleep more
End-of-Life Symptoms in Final Days
In the days and hours before death, a person with dementia may:
4.Seem to be deteriorating rapidly
Lose the ability to swallow
Develop cold hands or feet
Lose consciousness
Breathe irregularly or have "rattled" breath
Specific Types of Dementia Symptoms
Symptoms in the early and late stages of dementia can sometimes vary depending on the type of dementia.
Alzheimer's disease is the most common type of dementia.
5. It causes memory loss, poor judgement, difficulty keeping track of objects and dates, and mood and personality changes.3
Lewy body dementia commonly causes fluctuations in arousal, hallucinations, sleep problems, and difficulty walking.
6. Frontotemporal dementia doesn't usually cause memory problems in the early stages. Instead, people with this type of dementia might have obvious changes in personality and behavior.
7. Vascular dementia, which occurs as a result of having a stroke

i one of the biggest things to watch out for with a parent who is declining from dementia or Alzheimer’s is their ability/desire to eat or drink… What I found with my mom who had severe dementia… Was anything sweet… Thank God she loved her chocolate and yours… Chocolate pudding… their tendency to lose the desire to eat or drink in addition to losing taste that are pleasurable to them can cause numerous unfavorable consequences… Although you have hospice coming out… Make sure you check the skin every day because being bedridden a pressure ulcer doesn’t need very much time to begin and if you catch it before it becomes a problem, there are things that can be done before it goes too far… One of the most horrible things that I had to learn, even though I knew it as a nurse being the daughter of a demented parent makes you forget a lot of your nursing knowledge… Patience with Alzheimer’s/dementia… Will come in and out of reality… Most often after they’ve been asleep… Allow time for your parent to acclimate to their surroundings instead of putting yourself in a place that they’re not yet aware of… that can create a lot of fear and anger when they are in a state of not knowing who they are or where they are… You have to allow them time to reintegrate back to the present… But sometimes can be days… I’m sorry that you’re going through this

My grandmother at one time was 5ft tall and weighed 180 pounds. Short and round. Always said her boys, 5 of them, would not be able to carry her coffin. She suffered from ALZ her last years and passed at 86. The one sign, we were told, that would show she was dying, was they go into the fetal position, which she did. She was 100lbs when she passed. Her sons had no problem carrying the coffin.

We had about an 18-20 year journey.

For us the final stage was about 1-1/2 years when Mom became bedbound. Mom could no longer stand. She could no longer take a step.

I'd say Mom was on the water thickeners longer. I'd say maybe the last 2 or 2-1/2 years she was on the food and water thickeners.

We played relaxing music.

We repositioned her every 2 hours to prevent decubitus sores.

Some days she had a tough time opening her eyes to normal width.

She slept a lot but had slept a lot for many years.

you can also call the Alzheimer’s Association. I actually used to do fundraising events and walks with them and they are a great source of knowledge.

I don’t have an answer, I need an angel. My Mom is entering first stages of the advanced stage. She cant stand, walk, and cant control her bladder or bowels. I watch 3 people assist to help her stand and clean her. I cant do it. What kind of Country do we live in.?Why does she or I have to go through this? We know the outcome. It should stop here!!! None of this God takes you when he/she is ready! This is BS! Why does Suffering have to be a precursor to death? We don't let our pets suffer, but our family is different. Im sick over this. She doesn’t want to go through this! We should all have the right to say when, IN THIS TYPE OF CIRCUMSTANCE. Its not suicide!!!
Its humane!

IMISSMYMOTHER
IMISSMYMOTHER

The hospice RN managed the meds and ordered the meds. The hospice RN inspected her skin once a week as Mom was bedbound. The hospice RN ordered in supplies, thickener, chux, etc The hospice RN took her vitals once a week.