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Table of Contents
Progression of Dementia
Late-Stage Dementia
10 Signs Death Is Near
Causes of Death
Managing Dementia Care
Next in Dementia Guide
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. It’s important to understand what’s coming in the future so you can prepare emotionally and practically.
This article goes over howdementiaprogresses, what happens during late-stage dementia, and 10 signs that death is near.
A person with dementia will follow a typical pattern of decline. But the pace varies depending on the person.
As the disease progresses, a person can frequently become confused and disoriented. They have trouble communicating (both speaking and writing) and understanding complex information. Poor judgment and withdrawal from activities they once enjoyed are also common.
Finally, in late-stage disease, a person with dementia is no longer able to care for themselves. They are also at high risk for certain health conditions.
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.
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, their symptoms become severe.
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.
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.
Verywell / Cindy Chung
10 Signs Death Is Near in People With Dementia
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:
End-of-Life Symptoms in Final DaysIn thedays and hours before death, a person with dementia may:Seem to be deteriorating rapidlyLose the ability to swallowDevelop cold hands or feetLose consciousnessBreathe irregularly or have “rattly” breath
End-of-Life Symptoms in Final Days
In thedays and hours before death, a person with dementia may:Seem to be deteriorating rapidlyLose the ability to swallowDevelop cold hands or feetLose consciousnessBreathe irregularly or have “rattly” breath
In thedays and hours before death, a person with dementia may:
Types of Dementia Symptoms
Symptoms in the early and late stages of dementia can sometimes vary depending on the type of dementia.
With Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal dementia, vascular dementia, and CTE, the memory problems may respond to cues/reminders, while in Alzheimer’s there is often a forgetting of recent events altogether.
In the final stage of all types of dementia, a person goes through a major decline in everyday functioning.
Symptoms in the Late Stages of Alzheimer’s Disease
How Dementia Causes Death
A person in the late stage of dementia is at risk for many medical complications. Because they might not be able to move, they’re at especially high risk for certain conditions.
They could get aurinary tract infection(UTI) orpneumonia(an infection of the lungs). They can also experience skin breakdown,pressure ulcers(bedsores), orblood clots.
Trouble swallowing, eating, and drinking leads to weight loss, dehydration, andmalnutrition.This further increases their risk of infection.
In the end, most people with late-stage dementia die from underlying dementia or a related complication.
For example:
It’s important to know that late-stage dementia is a terminal illness and can lead to death. In these cases, the death certificate may list dementia as the cause of death.
Dementia Support Groups
Managing End-of Life Signs with Dementia
While advanced dementia of these types has no cure and ultimately leads to death, you can still help your loved one. You can provide comfort and play an active role in their care.
Memory care unitsin skilled nursing facilities andhospice careare available and encouraged for individuals with late-stage dementia. Memory care facilities offer personal care services and help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and walking.
Hospice focuses on pain relief and managing your loved one’s symptoms. It can provide medical equipment, physical therapy, dietary counseling, and respite care. If needed, hospice can also provide spiritual services for your loved one and family.
With this approach, you can be proactive in providing love and support, without putting your loved one through unnecessary medical treatments.
Summary
In the beginning stages of dementia, symptoms vary depending on the type of dementia.
As time goes on and dementia progresses, the symptoms start to be the same among all types of dementia. People call this late-stage or end-stage dementia. During this stage, your loved one may be at high risk of complications. Signs that death may be near include having more infections and losing the ability to speak, eat, move, and make facial expressions.
People with end-stage dementia often die from a complication related to their dementia. Hospice services can help provide pain relief and manage symptoms when death is near in the final stages of illness.
10 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Insitute on Aging.Alzheimer’s disease fact sheet.National Institute on Aging.What are the signs of Alzheimer’s disease?Alzheimer’s Research Association.How to tell when a person with dementia is nearing the end of their life.Liang CS, Li DJ, Yang FC, et al.Mortality rates in Alzheimer’s disease and non-Alzheimer’s dementias: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Lancet Healthy Longev. 2021;2(8):e479-88. doi:10.1016/S2666-7568(21)00140-9McKeith IG, Boeve BF, Dickson DW, et al.Diagnosis and management of dementia with Lewy bodies: Fourth consensus report of the DLB Consortium.Neurology. 2017;89(1):88-100. doi:10.1212/WNL.000000000000405Young JJ, Lavakumar M, Tampi D, Balachandran S, Tampi RR.Frontotemporal dementia: Latest evidence and clinical implications.Ther Adv Psychopharmacol. 2018;8(1):33-48. doi:10.1177/2045125317739818World Health Organization.Dementia.Borders JC, Blanke S, Johnson S, Gilmore-Bykovskyi A, Rogus-Pulia N.Efficacy of mealtime interventions for malnutrition and oral intake in persons with dementia: A systematic review.Alzheimer Dis Assoc Disord. 2020;34(4):366-379. doi:10.1097/WAD.0000000000000387National Council on Aging.What is memory care?Hospice Foundation of America.What is hospice?Additional ReadingAlzheimer’s Society.Dementia symptoms.Alzheimer’s Association.2021 Alzheimer’s disease facts and figures.Arcand M.End-of-life issues in advanced dementia: Part 1: Goals of care, decision-making process, and family education.Can Fam Physician. 2015;61(4):330-334
10 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Insitute on Aging.Alzheimer’s disease fact sheet.National Institute on Aging.What are the signs of Alzheimer’s disease?Alzheimer’s Research Association.How to tell when a person with dementia is nearing the end of their life.Liang CS, Li DJ, Yang FC, et al.Mortality rates in Alzheimer’s disease and non-Alzheimer’s dementias: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Lancet Healthy Longev. 2021;2(8):e479-88. doi:10.1016/S2666-7568(21)00140-9McKeith IG, Boeve BF, Dickson DW, et al.Diagnosis and management of dementia with Lewy bodies: Fourth consensus report of the DLB Consortium.Neurology. 2017;89(1):88-100. doi:10.1212/WNL.000000000000405Young JJ, Lavakumar M, Tampi D, Balachandran S, Tampi RR.Frontotemporal dementia: Latest evidence and clinical implications.Ther Adv Psychopharmacol. 2018;8(1):33-48. doi:10.1177/2045125317739818World Health Organization.Dementia.Borders JC, Blanke S, Johnson S, Gilmore-Bykovskyi A, Rogus-Pulia N.Efficacy of mealtime interventions for malnutrition and oral intake in persons with dementia: A systematic review.Alzheimer Dis Assoc Disord. 2020;34(4):366-379. doi:10.1097/WAD.0000000000000387National Council on Aging.What is memory care?Hospice Foundation of America.What is hospice?Additional ReadingAlzheimer’s Society.Dementia symptoms.Alzheimer’s Association.2021 Alzheimer’s disease facts and figures.Arcand M.End-of-life issues in advanced dementia: Part 1: Goals of care, decision-making process, and family education.Can Fam Physician. 2015;61(4):330-334
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Insitute on Aging.Alzheimer’s disease fact sheet.National Institute on Aging.What are the signs of Alzheimer’s disease?Alzheimer’s Research Association.How to tell when a person with dementia is nearing the end of their life.Liang CS, Li DJ, Yang FC, et al.Mortality rates in Alzheimer’s disease and non-Alzheimer’s dementias: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Lancet Healthy Longev. 2021;2(8):e479-88. doi:10.1016/S2666-7568(21)00140-9McKeith IG, Boeve BF, Dickson DW, et al.Diagnosis and management of dementia with Lewy bodies: Fourth consensus report of the DLB Consortium.Neurology. 2017;89(1):88-100. doi:10.1212/WNL.000000000000405Young JJ, Lavakumar M, Tampi D, Balachandran S, Tampi RR.Frontotemporal dementia: Latest evidence and clinical implications.Ther Adv Psychopharmacol. 2018;8(1):33-48. doi:10.1177/2045125317739818World Health Organization.Dementia.Borders JC, Blanke S, Johnson S, Gilmore-Bykovskyi A, Rogus-Pulia N.Efficacy of mealtime interventions for malnutrition and oral intake in persons with dementia: A systematic review.Alzheimer Dis Assoc Disord. 2020;34(4):366-379. doi:10.1097/WAD.0000000000000387National Council on Aging.What is memory care?Hospice Foundation of America.What is hospice?
National Insitute on Aging.Alzheimer’s disease fact sheet.
National Institute on Aging.What are the signs of Alzheimer’s disease?
Alzheimer’s Research Association.How to tell when a person with dementia is nearing the end of their life.
Liang CS, Li DJ, Yang FC, et al.Mortality rates in Alzheimer’s disease and non-Alzheimer’s dementias: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Lancet Healthy Longev. 2021;2(8):e479-88. doi:10.1016/S2666-7568(21)00140-9
McKeith IG, Boeve BF, Dickson DW, et al.Diagnosis and management of dementia with Lewy bodies: Fourth consensus report of the DLB Consortium.Neurology. 2017;89(1):88-100. doi:10.1212/WNL.000000000000405
Young JJ, Lavakumar M, Tampi D, Balachandran S, Tampi RR.Frontotemporal dementia: Latest evidence and clinical implications.Ther Adv Psychopharmacol. 2018;8(1):33-48. doi:10.1177/2045125317739818
World Health Organization.Dementia.
Borders JC, Blanke S, Johnson S, Gilmore-Bykovskyi A, Rogus-Pulia N.Efficacy of mealtime interventions for malnutrition and oral intake in persons with dementia: A systematic review.Alzheimer Dis Assoc Disord. 2020;34(4):366-379. doi:10.1097/WAD.0000000000000387
National Council on Aging.What is memory care?
Hospice Foundation of America.What is hospice?
Alzheimer’s Society.Dementia symptoms.Alzheimer’s Association.2021 Alzheimer’s disease facts and figures.Arcand M.End-of-life issues in advanced dementia: Part 1: Goals of care, decision-making process, and family education.Can Fam Physician. 2015;61(4):330-334
Alzheimer’s Society.Dementia symptoms.
Alzheimer’s Association.2021 Alzheimer’s disease facts and figures.
Arcand M.End-of-life issues in advanced dementia: Part 1: Goals of care, decision-making process, and family education.Can Fam Physician. 2015;61(4):330-334
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