Alzheimer’s disease is a brain disorder in which the brain cells gradually deteriorate. The last stage of this disease is the advanced or acute stage which could last anywhere between several weeks to years. As the disease progresses, critical care at all times is usually needed.

A person who is at an advanced stage of Alzheimer’s disease will undergo one or all of the following:

• Inability to independently take care of themselves.
• Severe alteration of memory and delayed recognition.
• Loss of recognizable language or speech skills.
• Inability to eat, move, or make use of the restroom unaided
• Loss of sense of time or identity

In these latter stages, the caregiver’s role should be prioritized on maintaining their quality of life and self-esteem as much as possible. Some of the ways to do that are discussed below:

1. Nutrition

When a person is at the late stage of Alzheimer’s disease, they sometimes forget that they have eaten, or they may lose their appetite. As the caregiver, one of the essential tasks is to monitor their nutrition. To stimulate appetite, consider preparing their preferred food or adding sugar to the meals to sweeten it. Other tips to try are:

• Ensure they’re seated in an upright position when eating.
• Opt for foods that are easy to swallow or soft on the gums for easy digestion.
• Provide support with feeding if and when necessary.
• Make sure they stay well dehydrated.
• Regularly check for weight gain or loss.

2. Excretion

Toilet problems are usually common in the late stage of Alzheimer’s disease. As the primary caregiver, it might be necessary to walk them to the washroom and guide them along the way. Unintentional voiding of urine is also frequent at this stage. For easy bowel and urinary bladder movement, try:

• Having a toilet routine.
• Reducing fluid intake before bedtime.
• Including fiber-rich foods in the meal plan.

3. Infections

Movement is somewhat limited in a person with Alzheimer’s disease in its advanced stage. This could make them susceptible to various kinds of infections. Therefore, they need to have good oral and body hygiene and take precautions against cold and influenza.

Do not hesitate to go for professional medical assistance when and if necessary.

4. Health and Exercise

The inability of a person who has Alzheimer’s to move around can degrade the skin and put pressure on wounds. To keep the body in a healthy state, as a caregiver, you could try the following:

• Regularly adjust their position every few hours to maintain a good blood flow around the body.
• Learn how to move and rotate their body without causing harm correctly.
• Keep skin moisturized and use soft beddings to protect bony parts.

5. Discomfort

One of the challenges of those living with Alzheimer’s is communicating uneasiness or pain. To identify discomfort, the caregiver must be observant of physical signs and nonverbal gestures that may point to pain or discomfort. Also, be mindful of changes in sleeping patterns, restlessness, anxiety, and tremors.