In the final stage of Alzheimer’s Disease, the disease has eroded the person’s ability to think or reason. The most essential tasks of day-to-day living require assistance, and the person’s personality may be entirely changed. In some cases, the person may be bedridden. A weakened body puts the person at greater risk for other illnesses, which is why many people may die not of Alzheimer’s but of infections such as pneumonia. Some common changes at this stage are:
• Complete memory loss. No longer able to recognize self or close family.
• Speech becomes increasingly difficult to understand, or may become mute.
• May refuse to eat, chokes, or forgets to swallow. The person may have trouble chewing and as a result, may lose weight.
• May repetitively cry out, pat or touch everything.
• Loses control of bowel and bladder. The person may experience frequent incontinence.
• Difficulties chewing and swallowing causes weight loss.
• May look uncomfortable or cry out when transferred or touched.
• Walking becomes unsteady, even impossible. May be too weak to stand alone unassisted.
• May have seizures, and experience frequent infections and falls.
• Excessive sleep.
• May groan and grumble unprovoked.
• Needs total assistance for all activities of daily living, including personal care, using the toilet, bathing, dressing, eating, and getting around.