DBAT Scale; FAST Scale; and others?

LearningCurve

Which of these scales have you folks found to be helpful? I am the sole caregiver for my 72 yo DH with dementia/Alz. We live in a rural mountain area. (We have all 4 seasons here).

Timmyd

I have looked at every scale I could locate and found the DBAT to be the most useful:

https://www.tamcummings.com/tools

harshedbuzz

DBAT and FAST overlap a great deal.

I find DBAT easier for a caregiver to use because it offers examples in the earlier stages. FAST breaks stages 6 and 7 into substages which may be helpful.

Lilydaisy

I like DBAT for its multiple examples of behaviors at various stages. Still, I doubt many people check off all the boxes in the stage they might be in. At early stage 5 memory care is suggested. Does anyone know if that means if they live alone, or under any circumstances, or something else? Early stage 5 may be where my DW fits, but I don't think MC is needed yet. Also, her doctor described her condition as "severe," which doesn't appear on DBAT until stage 6.

So while DBAT and other tools are very useful, I am still waiting for someone to tell me when my DW should be in MC. I wish that was possible.

blacksparky

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/274392#Comment_274392

My DW is at about the same as your DH. She is definitely in stage 5 with several stage 6 descriptions. I have been told that when a LO has displayed one aspect of the next stage that is the one they are in. Stages or no stages, you will know when your LO should be in MC. If you feel like you can’t give him the care that a facility can then that’s probably the time. I know for me that will be the biggest decision I have to make in my whole lifetime. Nothing with this disease is easy. Hang in there…

sandwichone123

By stage 6, they're in memory care, whether in a facility or with a home caregiver who gives up all semblance of normalcy to staff a single-person memory care. They require assistance with virtually all ADLs and constant supervision.

annie51

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/274404#Comment_274404

This is so very true. When I was debating the MC decision, someone posted a comment like this. Made me realize that an MC staff can handle much more than my staff of one at home.