Book: Introduction

The fact that dementia is a progressive, incurable and life limiting disease is not always raised. 

Dementia is not one specific disease. Rather dementia describes a collection of symptoms that are caused by disorders affecting the brain.

Dementia affects thinking, behaviour and the ability to perform everyday tasks. Brain function is affected enough to interfere with the person’s normal social or working life.

Hanson (2019) has written that "The progression of dementia is often separated into mild, moderate and severe corresponding to early, mid and late or advanced stages. The middle to late stages of the disease often signals a loss of autonomy, independence and reduction in physical and cognitive function."

Therefore, a person in the later stages is likely to experience severe memory loss, problems with communication and daily activities, and greater changes in behaviour and physical problems than in the earlier stages. They will probably rely on others for much of their care.

In this course we will use the term 'later stage dementia' to describe people who have had dementia for some years. The term 'end of life’ stage will be used to describe the last months and weeks, days and hours of the person with dementia, just before death.