Stages of Dementia
Learn how dementia causes changes in memory, thinking and function.
Mild
- Difficulty with short-term memory
- Poor concentration
- Poor decision-making
Moderate
- Difficulty with short- and long-term memory
- Forgets own personal history
- Poor decision-making
Advanced
- Severely impaired memory for recent and past events
Mild
- Problems remembering the right word or name
Moderate
- May or may not understand what is being said
- Losing ability to express self and make needs known
Advanced
- Unable to carry on a meaningful conversation
Mild
- May become depressed or socially withdrawn
Moderate
- More easily upset and frustrated
- May appear to lack emotion
Advanced
- Appears withdrawn
- Difficult to engage
Mild
- Difficulty organizing and managing household affairs, such as cleaning, cooking, and yard work
- Trouble handling finances
- Difficulty initiating activities
- Gets lost/mixed-up when driving in familiar places
- May be involved in “fender benders”
Moderate
- Forgets to eat/drink or use silverware and may lack table manners
- Has trouble selecting, sequencing and putting on clothing
- Needs reminders for shaving & tooth brushing
- Unable to apply make-up
- Forgets to bathe & may fear water in bath/shower
- Has problems with bladder & bowel
- Difficulty finding toilet
- Forgets to wipe or flush
- Incontinent episodes
Advanced
- May forget to chew food or swallow
- Has difficulty interacting/responding to surroundings
- Forgets how to walk without help; may lead to eventual loss of body movement
- Relies totally on caregivers for:
- Dressing
- Grooming
- Bathing
- Feeding
- Bladder/bowel
- May lose ability to sit up, hold head up and/or smile