How does someone die from Dementia

I hope this video brings some clarity on how someone dies from dementia and how as a caregiver, what you can do.

When dealing with any medically related events or medical emergencies, please communicate with your primary health care provider.

Join this channel to get access to perks:

#endoflife #hospice #activelydying

[Bluelargo]

Hi Julie, my Mom was a stroke survivor but paralysed on her whole left side. I had promised her in my adult years that she’d never be put in a nursing hm like my Nana. I quit my job & we lived off my 401k. We managed. We had so many happy times, so many laughs. In the end she told me to call everyone. I asked for what? She said to 😊😊 never opened her eyes or spoke again. When she passed she was curled up in my arms for she needed that assurance that she could go, that Id be ok. Her last exhale blew across my face at 4;30 a.m. 12/14/01. Mortician called the next day & asked how long I had been her main caregiver, other fam members thought I was crazy taking care of her. I told him 13 mths, why? He said your mother’s body was remarkable, u did an excellent job taking care of her. A lot of love and respect u showed your Mom. I hung up & cried terribly
for the next 3 hrs. It was all with Gods guidance of teaching myself, YT videos, transferring her a dz times a day, proper diet, massage, exercises, it was my Mom. A lady that would have done the same for me and a Mom that I loved so very very much❤️

[lesliem]

My dad was drugged heavily, couldn't sit up to eat, slept all the time. I got him off the meds, he fattened up, sat up. And I had him around for another 2 + years. He died at 91.

[BSN-bz]

My father (92) passed this morning of dementia. Thank you for this. He was a great dad and knowing he wasn't suffering at the end is so comforting.

[lynpenn]

My mother’s experience was EXACTLY as you described in this video. Mom was born into a gene pool filled with dementia. While she was still in control she advised me to place her in a nursing home when the time came that she needed constant care. The idea of bed sores was true. She would say “my tail hurts” and both of us would laugh. On her last day she was staring up to the corner at the ceiling and said “ I see my baby. I want my baby.” I placed a teddy bear in her arms and she cradled it as a mother would. Then she had a lucid moment, called me by name, and we said goodbye. She died holding her “baby” in her arms and was very peaceful. Folks, listen to Julie. She is a blessing.

[deakdeagen]

Our hospice nurse messaged to me about two weeks before my Mom passed away that the end was near. I asked her how she knew, she said, "When a patient sleeps as much as your Mother does, it's the body's way of preparing itself for death". She was right. My Mom was peacefully sleeping 20+ hours per day. She passed away shortly after the nurse said she would.

[racook]

My father passed when he was 69 from this horrible disease. The hospice nurse called me to indicate he was actively dying and once I got by his bedside, I told him it was ok and he could go home, to which he did about 10 minutes later. He had a smile on his face and it seemed as if someone was waiting on him. I found comfort in that. This was in 2010 and I have thought about him everyday since. Thank you for what you do.

[auricgoldfinger]

Retired MD here. You are a brilliant presenter. Obviously you’re a super nurse

[jimkoran]

My 91 year old mother passed away less than a week ago from dementia and her experience was exactly as you described. I was her caretaker and it broke my heart to see her declining so rapidly at the end. We were blessed to have 68 years together and she was the greatest mother and friend anyone could ask for. Thank you for posting your video as I am still grieving but your words have helped me tremendously to know I did all I could do for her as her son and caretaker. Thank you.

[katherineg]

I'm an RN. This is what people need to know. Thank you.

[dongreiert]

My wife just passed from Cruetzfeld Jakob Disease which is a rapid onset dementia. It was about 2 1/2 months but her last 8 days in hospice were some of the most amazing days thanks to nurses like you that care. One of the hospice nurses had worked in this for 21 years I asked her how she did this as all of her patients never have a happy ending, She looked at me and smiled and said "All of her patients have a happy ending, her job was to help them get there." Thank you for all you do.

[tinnellhickory]

My late husband had vascular dementia where the blood vessels of the brain slowly start to close up. He did exactly this...a stair step decline. Each time he lost a little more, but managed to bounce back somewhat each time...but never to the previous stair step level. He had dementia for at least 15 years, and I was his sole caregiver for the last ten years of his life...right to the very last moment. To see your loved one do this tragically slow stairstep decline is so painful Even more so for my husband. He was a world class craftsman working with his hands all his life. When he finally got to the point where his hands no longer worked as they should, it was devastating to him. He lost his joy in life, which caused even more decline. I felt fortunate to have him with me so long...because the long decline allowed me to not only show my love and devotion...but it allowed me the time to verbally express to him exactly how I felt about him. BTW, when they are unconscious and in their final days...have no doubt, they are "still in there". Never stop talking to them. As I cared for my Beau, I always talked about our times together. When I would say "I love you" his blue eyes would fly open and twinkle at me, eyebrows would flicker up and down to acknowledge he heard me, then he'd slip away into unconsciousness again. So keep talking...keep telling them that you love them. I tried to be present every single moment...however, to spare my feelings, my Beau waited until I was out of the room to cross to the other side. He always thought of me first...even in his passing. I love you Beau and I miss you every day. ❤❤❤

[FinallyFulfilled]

My mom died of dementia but she ate all the way until 15 minutes before dying. She never stopped eating. She just loved to eat (in general). God made sure she enjoyed it until the very last moments.

[tom-ssmn]

For 1 yr and 9 months i was my boyfriends caregiver. He needed everything done for him. Around the clock care. No one ever offered to give a me break or help with care. It was beyond difficult. But im glad i did it. Im glad i could show him how much i loved him

[Mompreneur]

My mother was 87 and passed away from Dementia 3 months ago. Everything you said happened to her. Pressure wounds, stopped eating and stopped drinking. But it was all of the sudden. She went from walking, laughing and eating to a 180 and died within 5 months.

[sactodan]

My wife, a retired AF lieutenant colonel, had a stroke in 2017, when she was 71, and docs discovered that her carotid artery was working at only 20% of normal. She was diagnosed with vascular dementia but coped pretty well for a few years until beginning a long decline both mentally and physically and drifting into Parkinson's symptoms. Bedridden for the last two years, I and her daughter cared for her at home 24/7 and she died peacefully six years almost to the day from her stroke. Through it all, she never complained even once, but rather accepted her fate with humor, telling visitors that "My brain doesn't work anymore." She was a wonderful woman and we miss her terribly but I'm glad that we cared for her at home, where she could continue to communicate with those who loved her.

[diannebrown]

I am dealing with this now. My husband has dementia and Parkinson's and is having cognitive decline. It's ironic your video popped up today as he is in a more confused state than usual today. Being the sole caregiver is very difficult, with no family near by. He has a friend who stops in to visit and usually 2 nights a week comes to sit with my husband so i can go to Zumba for a much needed emotional break. Watching someone decline is so very hard. Dementia and Parkinson's, I wouldn't wish those diseases on anyone :( Thank you for your video.

[LisaH]

I am a caregiver for my 88 year old mother with dementia. I want to reiterate what you said about asking a caregiver how you can help. Caregiving on a full time basis is lonely. Sometimes you don't see other people for extended periods of time because you are at home with your loved one. For those people who don't know how they can help...ask the caregiver what they need. Time away from home for food shopping, haircuts, your own doctor's appointments, meeting a friend for lunch or taking a walk can do SO much for the caregiver. We need time away to clear our head. Please don't hesitate to ask. I'm not the type to ask for assistance, but if someone asked me what I needed I would tell them. Two or three hours is a welcome break. You suggested bringing food and that is a wonderful idea. Thank you for addressing this in your video.

[Tammy-mjrw]

My Mother essentially starved to death..😢 her dementia was so bad she just shut down in all ways and was bed bound. No eating, no drinking, no moving, no talking..Very, very hard to watch..but caring for her was a great blessing for my brother and me. But losing her twice, mentally and physically, really took it's toll. But we do not regret the time with her.

[bigg]

Yes, you nailed it. My mother died of LBD. She died exactly as you described. Thank you for this video. After she died, then my father died. He died of pulmonary fibrosis 3 months after my mother. Then after that my partner of 37 years became sick with MSA-P. I am taking care of him but like you said, watching someone decline especially a loved one is extremely hard. I'm going into my 7 straight year of caring for loved ones who I watched decline and die. I cry all the time. I've cried very often over the last 7 years. Watching my partner struggle and slowly be tortured to death is like living with a broken heart everyday. I can go from thinking we are having a good day to sobbing in a flash. I don't see a future. I have survivor guilt. What horrible disease will befall me? I'm terrified my partner will die next to me in bed at night. But mostly I cry and it's sobbing unending crying.

[mikegrawvunder]

Hi Julie, I just found your videos. This really hit home with me. We learned at the end of 2021 that besides having CHF and severe kidney disease, my wife developed Alzheimer's. I had an aunt who had it for years before she died two years ago. I had been noticing that Cindy, my wife, had become increasingly forgetful. But she was only 61 at the time.

She wasn't that bad and continued living at home. Last spring, taking care of her at home became too much for me. We have been married for 40 years. She moved into a care facility in March. I struggled with the decision. But she needs someone who can help her bathe, dress, and take care of herself. It wasn't working with me trying to help her.

Cindy is very happy there now. I wasn't so sure I made the right decision for the first 2 or 3 weeks. She called me a lot those first few weeks screaming and shouting. She just wanted to come home. She doesn't like it there. Can't she just come home for the night. Things like that. I know dementia patients need their routine and we had upset her routine royally.

Now she prefers it there. If I bring her home for the day, within a few hours she is ready to go back. I've asked her several times if she wants to stay overnight. Not at all. She likes her view and her friends there. For that, I am so glad.

I do miss her through. Sometimes, I wish I could bring her home to live with me. But I know that isn't what is best for her. Her overall memory isn't bad yet. Short-term memory is not good at all. We can have the same conversation 5 times within 10 minutes. And some of her behaviors seem to have reverted to more childlike.

I apologize for my comment getting so long. It just felt nice to be able to write to someone I thought would understand. Thanks for the great video.

Miike G.