"Welcome to the Jungle", oh I mean EOA Stages

We are thrilled to have you join us for an unforgettable evening of entertainment. Get ready to experience incredible performances, vibrant energy, and a fantastic atmosphere! Maybe, maybe not. But it is a journey after all. Also take note (again learned from my 2 years in a support online group) your LO may have some of these, and may not, you never know it's a disease in progress. We all really want to know more, even our partner. To be honest we could be planning our financial future, or planning our escape. It's normal. It's very overwhelming to not know. But guess what if you partner was hit by a bus when they were healthily you would not have known they were dying either. What's my point? I suggest to try looking through a different lens. You cannot control them, or the timeline of this disease or anything but you and how you can control how to react to the disease, your life and your partner.

Read and Learn the stages

Reading: Below is from PENN Medicine.

Stages of Alzheimer's disease: 7-stage model

A doctor may also use a diagnostic framework with five, six, or seven levels. The levels are arranged by the severity of impairment. Progression through these stages usually lasts from 8 to 10 years, but again, it differs from person to person and can stretch out for as long as 20 years.

Sample 7-stage model of Alzheimer’s disease:

Stage 1 – No Impairment

Memory and cognitive abilities appear normal.

Stage 2 – Minimal Impairment/Normal Forgetfulness

Memory lapses and changes in thinking are rarely detected by friends, family, or medical personnel.

Stage 3 – Early Confusion/Mild Cognitive Impairment

While subtle difficulties begin to impact function, the person may try to cover up their problems. They may have difficulty with retrieving words, planning, organization, misplacing objects, and forgetting recent learning, which can affect life at home and work. Depression and other changes in mood can also occur.

Duration: 2 to 7 years.

Stage 4 – Late Confusion/Mild Alzheimer's disease

Mathematical challenges can cause problems with handling finances. Increasingly, the person will forget recent events and conversations, although most people in this stage still know themselves and their family members.

Problems carrying out sequential tasks, including cooking, driving, ordering food at restaurants, and shopping are common. The person often withdraws from social situations, becomes defensive, and denies any problems.

Duration: roughly 2 years.

Stage 5 – Early Dementia/Moderate Alzheimer's disease

Decline is more severe and the person requires assistance. They’re no longer able to manage independently or recall personal history details and contact information. They’re frequently disoriented regarding place or time.

People in this stage experience a severe decline in numerical abilities and judgment skills, which can leave them vulnerable to scams and safety problems. Basic daily living tasks like eating and dressing require increased supervision.

Duration: average of 1.5 years.

Stage 6 – Middle Dementia/Moderately Severe Alzheimer's disease

People in this stage are often no longer aware of present events and unable to accurately remember the past. They progressively lose the ability to take care of daily living activities like dressing, toileting, and eating, but are still able to respond to nonverbal stimuli, and communicate pleasure and pain via behavior.

Agitation and hallucinations often show up in the late afternoon or evening. Dramatic personality changes such as wandering or suspicion of family members are common. Many can’t remember close family members, but know they are familiar.

Duration: approximately 2.5 years.

Stage 7 – Late or Severe Dementia and Failure to Thrive

In this final stage, speech becomes severely limited, as well as the ability to walk or sit. Total support around the clock is needed for all functions of daily living and care.

Duration: impacted by quality of care, but average length is 1 to 2.5 years.

There is a great form out there you can download- This site does a great job of digging in, but keep in mind no two patients are alike

"Welcome to the Jungle" by Guns and Roses