He sits, tied in his wheelchair (otherwise he falls out). His head is down, his chin almost on his chest. His chest is wet with drool. He speaks no intelligible words. (Once in a while, he may utter a "no" "yeah" or "hi" but it's very rare and not always pertinent.) He is aspirating his food and drink. He will not hold my hand or even look at me. (I tried to make him look at me and he took off his glasses.) He is on a catheter, in diapers, in acute kidney failure.
This is the stage 7 description from the Alzheimer's web site:
Stage 7:Very severe cognitive decline (Severe or late-stage Alzheimer's disease)
This is the final stage of the disease when individuals lose the ability to respond to their environment, the ability to speak and, ultimately, the ability to control movement.
- Frequently individuals lose their capacity for recognizable speech, although words or phrases may occasionally be uttered
- Individuals need help with eating and toileting and there is general incontinence of urine
- Individuals lose the ability to walk without assistance, then the ability to sit without support, the ability to smile, and the ability to hold their head up. Reflexes become abnormal and muscles grow rigid. Swallowing is impaired.
