Have any questions about how to use the community? Check out the Help Discussion.

DBAT Scale; FAST Scale; and others?

LearningCurve
LearningCurve Member Posts: 79
25 Care Reactions 25 Likes 10 Comments First Anniversary
Member
in Caring For a Spouse or Partner

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).

Comments

  • Timmyd
    Timmyd Member Posts: 360
    250 Insightfuls Reactions 250 Care Reactions 250 Likes 100 Comments
    Member

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

    https://www.tamcummings.com/tools

  • harshedbuzz
    harshedbuzz Member Posts: 6,588
    Ninth Anniversary 1,500 Insightfuls Reactions 1,500 Likes 5000 Comments
    Member

    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
    Lilydaisy Member Posts: 95
    Seventh Anniversary 25 Insightfuls Reactions 25 Likes 25 Care Reactions
    Member

    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
    blacksparky Member Posts: 309
    500 Care Reactions 250 Likes 100 Insightfuls Reactions 100 Comments
    Member
    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…

  • annie51
    annie51 Member Posts: 655
    500 Likes 500 Care Reactions 250 Insightfuls Reactions 500 Comments
    Member
    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.

Commonly Used Abbreviations


DH = Dear Husband
DW= Dear Wife, Darling Wife
LO = Loved One
ES = Early Stage
EO = Early Onset
FTD = Frontotemporal Dementia
VD = Vascular Dementia
MC = Memory Care
AL = Assisted Living
POA = Power of Attorney
Read more

Community Guidelines


Click here to review the ALZConnected Community Guidelines

Categories