Expert: Paula Damgaard - 3/8/2011

Question
I asked in October 2010 the expected life span for my mother but left out too much info..
Age of diagnosis - 4 months shy of 82
Stage - Mild to Moderate (though she was recovering from a fall that had occurred that summer). Though I look at the 7 Stages and she exhibits various behaviors from #3,4,5
Symptoms Started - at least year before diagnosis. Neurologist thinks Dem/AD there for about a year.
Mental Illness in addition to AD- Paranoid schizophrenia
Health-good with exception of IBS, and a recovering alcoholic (she hasn't had a drink in 7 years#. She is also treated for hand tremors and gait due to her antipsy meds that she took earlier in her life #they are non reversible#
Her Parents health-her mother died young - stroke in her 60's. Her father was very healthy,strong and active until the last 2 years of his life #dementia# He died at age 96.
Current State- We have moved her into an Assisted Living facility that has memory care #the facility is geared towards Dementia/AD residents). Mom is content there -she is near my sibling who visits frequently. She actually improved her test scores a bit. Her neurologist attributes this to her meds and the structure/schedule of her environment.

What are your thoughts on  her life span. I am in charge of her finances and want to make sure she has enough money to last for her life. Any idea on the odds of her living until 96? I would imagine unlikely with AD diagnosis at 82, but I don't know.

Thanks so much

Answer
The answer to that question is beyond me. Even with your added info I would need to be God to tell you how long she has to live. She has several things going on as you say and these of course can shorten a life span but know one knows how much. It will also depend to some extent how you all handle her medically. For instance pneumonia used to be the old peoples' friend but now we treat them with newer antibiotics so they live longer. We give the elderly vaccines which also extend lives. I don't really agree with these things. I think we should always think quality over quantity.

So if you treat your mother for every Infection she gets you are giving her quantity of life. If you tell the doctors you only want comfort care for her I believe you are giving her quality.

I know this isn't the answer you were hoping for, but I hope it helps. Paula