Does vascular dementia affect swallowing?
As dementia progresses it affects the area of the brain that controls swallowing. In advanced dementia the person may have a weak swallow or lose the ability to swallow safely. For example, they may cough or choke after swallowing food or drinks.
What do you do when a dementia patient won’t swallow?
It may help to only serve foods that are easy to chew and swallow, like applesauce, yogurt, or pureed foods. Stay away from sticky foods like peanut butter or hot drinks like coffee. Cut solid food into small pieces. If they don’t chew well, cough, or choke when they eat, have them swallow several times between bites.
What are the last stages of vascular dementia?
As the condition progresses, it damages all brain functions, so the effects can be similar to those of Alzheimer’s disease in the later stages. The later stages include greater levels of confusion, mood changes, and memory problems. People may also have hallucinations in the later stages.
How long can an elderly person live with dysphagia?
In this cohort, cases presenting with dysphagia were older, presented with more severe pneumonia, greater decline in functional status, and demonstrated a higher prevalence of malnutrition. These patients also demonstrated increased mortality at 30 days and 1-year follow-up.
How long can a dementia patient live without food and water?
If you stop eating and drinking, death can occur as early as a few days, though for most people, approximately ten days is the average. In rare instances, the process can take as long as several weeks.
How do you know when vascular dementia is getting worse?
Over time a person with vascular dementia is likely to develop more severe confusion or disorientation, and further problems with reasoning and communication. Memory loss, for example for recent events or names, will also become worse.
Is dysphagia in end of life symptom?
Dysphagia is a poor prognostic sign in patients nearing the end of life, and for many patients with a life-limiting illness, the inability to swallow may represent a pivotal symptom that prompts the decision to consider end-of-life or hospice care.