Expert: Paula Damgaard - 7/24/2007

Question
My dad is just entering Stage 7.  I am wondering, generally, how long that stage lasts.  I am thinking that it is probably a shorter stage given the physical changes.  I know there are no specific answers, just generally, please.

Answer
I wish I could tell you the answer to that question.  I would probably be very rich if I could.  Everyone is different and it depends on the care the patient is given.  Sometimes care isn't always a good thing.  If you have a physician who isn't comfortable with death, then everytime he has an infection, the doctor will want to treat it and that allows him to live longer.  Used to be pneumonia was the old people's friend because they would get it and there weren't any antibiotics to treat it and they would die peacefully.  Now we have so many drugs that people are living for ever.  We are giving them quantity of life not quality!  

I hope that at this point someone as offered you the services of Hospice.  Even if your dad doesn't have 6months to live (the requirement if he had cancer) Hospice realizes that AD is a terminal disease and they come in earlier, it is called a transition program.  So if someone hasn't offered this ask about it.  

I hope it goes quickly for him and for you.  I know this is a long battle.  Take care Paula