Thoughts

Charliesmama

Is it common for late stage Alzheimer’s patients to just suddenly lose the ability to walk? Like one day pacing the house on her own and then the next day the legs just giving out.
Hospice doctor says it is just progression, I don’t know if it’s progression or an infection or am I just in denial?

Jo C.

There will be, I would imagine, a variety of responses. For me, with my mother, we had her UTIs treated until the very last when in an active dying state. A concern was also that she may not be able to communicate discomfort. So; when my mother was in an active dying state, we did not treat her UTI, but otherwise we did. It made a huge difference in her behaviors as well as her comfort level. I also did not want a simple UTI to evolve into something far worse for her.

It can be difficult to know what to do as things become more complicated, assess things and go with your gut, you know her well.

J.

Charliesmama

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/237260#Comment_237260

I guess that’s why I’m not letting it go because I feel like this was a sudden change but they are not willing to treat anymore and just saying progression. Thank you for your input.

sandwichone123

If you go to a memory care facility you will see it filled with people who are wheelchair-bound, sitting in geri chairs, or have trouble walking. While I can't diagnose your loved one, it is very common for people with dementia to stop being able to walk as the disease progresses. You can always ask them to check for UTI, which is often the cause of sudden changes, but there are also often changes that are just part of the disease progression.

Is there a particular reason you do not trust the judgement of those caring for her?