stage: 5

Late stage dementia and life expectancy — what the final months look like

Late stage dementia, corresponding to stage 7 on the Global Deterioration Scale, is the final phase of the illness. At this point the person has lost almost all verbal communication, is fully dependent for all personal care, and may be largely immobile. Survival in late stage dementia is typically measured in months rather than years, though some people remain in this stage for a year or longer. The most common causes of death are aspiration pneumonia and infections including urinary tract infections that progress to sepsis. Palliative care planning, including decisions about resuscitation, hospital admission, and artificial nutrition, should ideally be in place before this stage is reached.