Dementia has a huge impact on your aging adult, especially when she is nearing the end of her battle. It’s important that you learn what can indicate that your senior is approaching the later stages of dementia. That helps you to ensure that she’s getting the help and the care that she needs, but it can also help you to come to terms with what is going on.

She’s Not Able to Speak

When your elderly family member is not able to speak at all, that can be a sign that she’s nearing the later stages of her battle with dementia. This can mean that the parts of her brain that affect her ability to both understand and to create speech just don’t work the way that they need to any longer.

She’s Not Mobile Anymore

Lack of mobility itself isn’t the only sign that dementia is nearing the later stages, but it can be a sign of trouble. When she’s not able to control her body’s movements, that’s often due to changes in your senior’s brain. Much like the other difficulties your senior is having, the changes in her brain are to blame.

She’s Experiencing Significant Trouble with ADLs

Activities of daily living, or ADLs, are those daily activities that need to be done on a daily basis in order to keep your senior going. In the earlier and middle stages of dementia, your elderly family member may still be able to handle some of those tasks on her own or with some assistance. As the disease progresses, though, your senior may not be able to handle those activities even with help.

She’s Declining Food More Often

At some point, your elderly family member may be turning down food more and more often. This is a problem because her body becomes weaker when she’s not getting enough fuel on a regular basis. Eating can be physically a problem for her, which can be a big reason that she no longer wants to eat. Finding foods and techniques that are more appealing to her can be helpful, but it might mean a bit of trial and error on your part.

Hospice elder care providers can help you with the practical aspects of caring for your senior in the later stages of dementia. They can also help you to spot those subtle signs that indicate that she may be closer to the end of her life than you had thought. This can help you to be more prepared for what happens.

If you or an aging parent are considering hospice elder care in Bethlehem, PA, please contact the caring staff at Serenity Hospice today. Call (215) 867-5405.