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The Three Stages of Dementia

Donna Nichols • February 6, 2024

Nobody knows what will happen when your older adult’s cognitive ability, or behavior changes. There is so much uncertainty with this Alzheimer’s and dementia, but understanding the three stages of dementia may give you a sense of what you can expect.


The three stages of dementia relate to Alzheimer’s as well and please remember, that not everyone will fit into a stage or progress as stated because each person’s journey is different.


The first stage is early or mild dementia – during this stage, the person may still be able to live by him/herself and be able to drive, work and socialize. They may start forgetting familiar things and others can “seem off.”


Symptoms of early/mild dementia may include:


Struggling to find the right words, or struggling to remember names or people you know.


Losing or misplacing things more often.


Forgetting something you just read.


Having trouble planning or organizing things.


Having difficulty doing everyday tasks.


Making poor decisions.


The second stage is middle/moderate dementia – this stage is usually the longest and can last for several years. During this stage, the person may get their words mixed up, get frustrated or angry easily, or act in unusual ways, like refusing to bathe for days. People in this stage may need in-home care or assisted living.


Symptoms in middle/moderate dementia may include:


Forgetting major life events or things that recently happened.


Being confused about where they are or what day it is.


Forgetting their address, phone number, or other significant things.


Being moody or withdrawn.


Changes in sleep pattern.


A handful of people in this stage experience incontinence.


Wandering and getting lost.


Needing assistance in choosing clothes.


Personality and behavior changes.


The third stage is late-stage dementia. In this stage, people increasingly lose the ability to engage in the world, hold a conversation and control their muscles.


They have difficulty communicating and expressing thoughts, even though they may still be able to speak.


Their memory and cognitive skills will continue to worsen, and you may see personality changes.


People at late-stage dementia will usually:


Progressively lose physical abilities, including the ability to sit, walk, and swallow.


Need 24/7 help with daily activities and personal care.


Lose awareness of recent experiences and their surroundings.


Have an increase of difficulty in communicating.


Become more likely to develop infections, especially pneumonia.


Dementia affects each person differently and changes different parts of the brain at different points in the progression of the disease. A person with dementia does not always fit into one stage and different types of dementia sometimes have different symptoms.


Knowing the stages can help you plan, and planning is essential. Having an idea of the symptoms gives you the tools you need to find ways to cope with the behaviors your older adult will experience, and it gives you the chance to prepare for it all mentally.



I hope learning about the three stages of dementia helps you better prepare for the journey you and your loved one will be embarking upon. If you are a caregiver and need guidance, we hold four (4) Alzheimer’s caregiver support groups a month and they are all free. Give us a call at 386-847-2322 for more information, do NOT go this alone!!!

Make Valentine’s Day Special for Seniors

By Donna Nichols • February 5, 2025
Valentine’s Day tends to zero in on romantic love, but what about our seniors? They too often get forgotten. We have some ways to make Valentine’s Day special for them too. Spend the day with your loved one. Spending quality time with a loved one is more important to a senior than anything else. There is no greater gift than time and please make sure you have enough, so you are not rushed. Do your elderly loved one have a favorite meal? Perhaps you can prepare it for them, or if they are able, you can prepare it together. How fun would that be for you both? Be sure to discuss the enjoyment it brought you while you are sharing the meal together. How about a game of name that love song? You could prepare a playlist of love songs from the generation and play them to see how many they get correct. Or, if you can sing, you can sing some for them and see if they can recollect them. Take some time for reminiscing, go through old photo albums, or ask about old times. Ask them about when you were young and what trouble you caused; this will give you all something to laugh (or cry) about. Has your loved one been cooped up all winter? Take them out for a nice lunch, or weather permitting, a picnic in the park. Go for coffee and a donut, then head out to see a movie. Make a “date” of it. Maybe your senior is into crafts. You can design special Valentine’s Day cards for other family members. This way your senior can express their love for them and send it to them in their own unique way. You can create other greeting cards as well. Bake some special treats together. Does your senior have some favorite cookies or cake? You could bake it together, or you can bake it for them. Then you can enjoy it after you have the meal you prepared together. Yummy, delicious!! You can watch some romantic movies together if they prefer to stay in the house or the weather isn’t so good. If they like to color, you can buy them some of those large coloring books and you can color together. Don’t forget the decorations and the flowers! Make the house or apartment as festive as possible. Even if they live in as assisted living community, you can still decorate their room to the nines! Make it as festive as possible! If you live in another state or can’t be close to your senior for Valentine’s Day, how about sending them a specially crafted care package. You can hand make some gifts, add some photos of family and friends, and send a personally recorded message. You can bake some homemade treats and incorporate some things that are of personal interest to them. This will show how much you care for them and make their Valentine’s Day extra special even if you can’t be with them.  There are so many ways to make Valentine’s Day special for seniors. Let’s not forget about them; make sure to show them they are so loved too!

February is National Heart Month

By Donna Nichols • February 4, 2025
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Hydration Tips for the Winter

By Donna Nichols • January 8, 2025
I’ve written many blogs about the importance of staying hydrated in the summer, but did you know it’s just as important to stay hydrated in the winter months? I’ve shared some important tips on how to stay hydrated in the winter and why. Cold, dry air can dehydrate you easily and quickly. Even if you don’t feel thirsty. Proper hydration can help regulate your body temperature, maintain healthy organ function, and prevent fatigue, dry skin, and headaches. In the colder months, you do not feel thirsty, that’s why it’s so important to make sure you drink plenty of water. Why is winter hydration so important? Colder air tends to be drier causing moisture to evaporate through your breathing which can cause dehydration. In colder weather, you may not feel as thirsty, causing you to become dehydrated quickly. Also, wearing more clothing traps sweat inside your clothing causing more fluid loss. What are some of the benefits of staying hydrated in the winter? • Drinking enough water helps keep your skin hydrated and prevents dryness. This will help with that dry, itchy skin feeling we all get in the winter. • Water helps your body maintain a regular core temperature. Which is so important to maintain in the winter. • Drinking plenty of water supports your immune system, which helps fight off winter colds and the flu. We all want to fight those germs off! • When you are dehydrated, you become tired easily, so drinking plenty of water helps keep your energy levels up. How do you stay hydrated in the winter? • Make sure you drink plenty of water. Set reminders if you must; you probably won’t feel as thirsty in the winter, but you need to keep drinking that water! • You don’t have to drink cold water; room temperature water works. You can also drink tea or water with lemon, as long as you’re getting your water. • If you’re going out, carry a water bottle with you to ensure you have water to drink. • Eat fruits and vegetables that contain water. Tomatoes, lettuce, strawberries, watermelon, cauliflower, mushrooms, cucumber, apples, and pineapple are just a few that contain high water contents. • If you think you’re dehydrated, check your urine; if it’s a darker color, that can suggest dehydration. Urine should be a pale, yellow color. As you can see, staying hydrated in the winter is just as important as staying hydrated in the summer, if not more. In the winter you don’t realize you are thirsty therefore you tend not to drink as much water as you should. This has the potential of wreaking havoc on your body. Please make sure you drink plenty of water in the wintertime as you do in the summertime. We have rebranded our company, we are now Assisted Senior Services! Call us for ANYTHING SENIOR!! 386-847-2322!
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