my dad recently passed away from alzheimer's disease. During a 5 day period (when i was on a trip and no one visited him) he slipped from

stage 5 (able to dress, feed himself with supervision - but unable to recall personal history reliably; lack of current info) (lasts approx 1.5 years)

to stage 6 Agitation and hallucination, loss of bowel & bladder control, inability to do independent living tasks; responds to nonverbal stimuli

and in 2 weeks he was at stage 7: Loss of speech, moans only, no ability to ambulate, no swallowing ability - required total support
he was in stage 7 for 3 days and then he passed away.

Has anyone else seen such fast decline ?

I contacted 2 neurologists - they both responded that this speed of progression is very unusual and that there was probably some underlying acute medical condition underlying my dad's fast decline. (stroke? metastasized cancer?)

We'll never know what exactly.

Jean my mom has Alzheimers.

My mom start with repeating herself and then begin to lose history of her life and some family members and getting really scarce knowing something isn't right. Now there is not much communication, except maybe repeating a little like I love you.

She still can use the bathroom but get confusion where it is at.
To me I think some stages can jump to one side to another. My mom also has metastasized cancer. She was on chemo for a long time but took her off because her weight was to low.

I am so sorry that you have to go through this, I know this is hard for you and especially not knowing exactly what happen. I am constantly trying to figure out what is happening to my mother and to see her go down hill each day is so hard.

I hope you will find you answers to your questions but most of all, I hope you find the peace you need.

I'm so sorry you lost your Dad. Alzheimer's is such a cruel disease.

My Mom and sister both died from Alzheimer's. Mom's lasted a full ten years and she went from being able to live at home to having to live in a nursing home over that period of time.

My sister had early-onset Alzheimer's and she went downhill rapidly. She passed away after about five years. I'm not sure what dictates how long someone will live......my Mom was 82 when she passed and didn't acquire Alzheimer's until she was in her 70's. My sister was dx at the age of 48.

In a way I'm glad that my sister didn't have to live many years with this disease and no hope of recovering. I pray everyday that they can find a cure.

(((((((Jean))))))))))

my deepest sympathy at your dad's passing

Dear Jeanb

I am so sorry about your Dad's passing. My Dad is 86, has recently had an injury and seems to be kind of giving up. Were you able to be with your Dad at his passing. I see that you were gone when he went through much of his change, but I don't know if you were able to say good bye. If not, this is something I read in a hospice manual: sometimes people, whatever their condition or state of mind, wait until loved ones are absent to pass over. This is apparently to spare them somehow. I pray that you are okay and that you are coming to recognize that there truly is no death of the spirit. My sister-in-law gave me the best advice on dealing with my mother's death in 2002: in speaking of her own mother's death and how she handles it, she said, I just assume that she is still around somewhere. And truly, I believe that this is true of our parents. Caring for you, billie

My husband and I were at Dad's bedside when he passed away. The hospice nurse had told us that hearing is "the last to go." So I talked to Dad - telling him how much he was loved and what a good father he was. I wanted him to hear my voice so he would know I was there.

I thought that being with him when he passed away would be hard - but it wasn't. It was peaceful and comforting. I'm so glad we were there with him.

Thanks to everyone for their kind wishes.

Jean

Jean glad that you were able to be at your Father's bedside before he passed away. So sorry for the lost of your Dad.

How are you Jean? You are still in my thoughts and prayers.

Trish

I know what you mean. I was with my Dad, too, when he passed and I wouldn't trade that experience for anything in this world. I'm glad you got to be with your Dad. I think they knew we were there.