How Long Can Someone Live With Dementia – The life expectancy of a person living with dementia varies greatly depending on the person and the individual case. Because dementia isn’t a disease in itself, but rather the name for a group of symptoms caused by diseases like Alzheimer’s disease, you can’t meet a one-size-fits-all life expectancy.
Similar to cancer, there are many types of dementia, many types of people diagnosed with dementia, and therefore many paths that the disease can take. Some live only a few years after their diagnosis. Some live for 20 years or more.
How Long Can Someone Live With Dementia
While you can’t set a specific life expectancy for dementia, you can look at factors that influence the life expectancy of a person with dementia, such as existing health conditions and the type of dementia a person has.
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We’ll cover more below, but each type of dementia has a slightly different average life expectancy. This is because each type affects the brain and body differently. Some types of dementia allow you to live longer, while others develop more quickly.
If a person is diagnosed with dementia who already has diabetes, high blood pressure, or heart disease, he or she will have a lower life expectancy because these other diseases can affect the development of dementia or Alzheimer’s and put them at a higher risk of other medical complications.
Because older adults (age 65 and over) are more likely to have other pre-existing conditions, their life expectancy is lower than someone who is diagnosed at a younger age and has better overall health.
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Someone who is in the more advanced stages of dementia at the time of diagnosis will have a shorter life expectancy than someone who is diagnosed in the early stages of dementia.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia. This is caused by abnormal proteins in the brain that cause cell damage that affects cognitive and physical functioning.
The life expectancy of someone with Alzheimer’s disease is eight to 12 years from diagnosis, although people have lived up to 26 years after diagnosis.
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The earlier you are diagnosed, the longer your life expectancy. However, most people with Alzheimer’s are not diagnosed until the mild dementia stage when symptoms become more pronounced.
Vascular dementia is a type of dementia caused by reduced blood flow to the brain, usually caused by a stroke, series of mini-strokes, or other heart disease. Vascular dementia often accompanies Alzheimer’s disease, otherwise known as “mixed dementia.”
The life expectancy of a person with vascular dementia is four years. This is less than Alzheimer’s because someone with vascular dementia is at risk of having another stroke or heart attack.
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. This type of dementia can affect a person’s movement, making them more prone to falls, which can greatly affect the overall health of older adults. Therefore, the life expectancy of a person with Lewy body dementia is about six years.
Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) includes all types of dementia that mainly affect the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain, which are areas of the brain associated with personality, language and behavior. The average life expectancy of a person with this type of dementia is about eight years.
However, frontotemporal dementia is often diagnosed in young people and the disease actually progresses more quickly if you receive the diagnosis at a younger age.
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Some people with FTD are also diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). If so, their life expectancy is shorter, around two to three years after diagnosis.
It’s understandable that if you or a loved one has been diagnosed with dementia, your first question will be about life expectancy. And while resources like this article can be helpful, we must continue to emphasize that life expectancy varies widely. Talk to your doctor or neurologist to get a better idea of your diagnosis and how to live with the best possible quality of life.
Also, it is very important to get your affairs in order as early as possible when dealing with a dementia diagnosis. Talk to an attorney or legal advisor about the arrangements
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To ensure that everyone in your family knows who is in charge of what and to ensure that your or your loved ones’ finances are in order.
Finally, consider talking to a counselor. This can be especially helpful for those living with dementia in its early stages. It can also help caregivers and family members. To learn more about how to find a therapist who specializes in dementia care, visit the Alzheimer’s Association here.
While life expectancy for dementia varies, one fact holds true for anyone living with dementia: research is making progress in the treatment, prevention and care of those with dementia or those at risk of developing it.
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As the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues to spread, our community is focused on keeping our residents and staff safe and keeping residents engaged and fulfilled every day. We take a careful approach, balancing the highest level of security in the least restrictive environment.
Screening: We screen all employees daily. We asked our staff to fill out a questionnaire (ask about possible symptoms, recent travel and exposure), check temperature and oxygen levels before entering the building. Staff are also required to sanitize mobile phones, keys and wash hands while under observation. We closely monitor the health of our residents with temperature and oxygen levels at least twice a day. We help our citizens wash their hands throughout the day and encourage them to wear masks or face coverings.
Cleaning: We have improved our cleaning products regarding their effectiveness at killing COVID-19 particles and proper sanitation and disinfection, using the EPA’s list of specific disinfectants for use against the coronavirus. We use this checklist and train staff on how long cleaning solutions should be kept on surfaces before wiping to ensure their effectiveness. We prioritize cleaning high-touch areas and horizontal surfaces, cleaning them several times a day.
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Physical Distancing: We recommend a distance of 6 feet between residents and staff unless they are providing direct care to residents.
Testing: We test all residents and staff for COVID-19 every three weeks, and more as needed. Our nurses use PCR tests that we send to private labs to speed up the results.
Physical changes: We installed ultraviolet lamps in our air conditioners which supply air to the common areas of the house. This method is believed to help kill bacteria that have passed through the system and pushed back into the house. We also upgraded our HVAC filters to near HEPA levels, trying to add an extra layer of protection to keep COVID-19 from entering the building. Most notably, air purifiers have been added to common areas and each occupant’s room.
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PPE: Staff members wear masks at all times and we encourage residents to wear masks when outside their rooms. We also urge physical distancing between residents. Staff wear additional protective gear when necessary while caring for our residents. Staff continue to be trained on when and how to use personal protective equipment (PPE).
Uncertainty around COVID-19 affects us all. In our community, we don’t let that stop us from offering a life lived safely. Most importantly, we pay the highest attention to the safety and well-being of our residents. Our programs have always revolved around the individual needs of each resident and this has not changed during COVID-19. Residents can still connect with each other and staff while maintaining a safe physical distance. Weather permitting, we enjoy the large terrace and garden. We continuously keep our residents engaged through cognitive, physical and recreational experiences. We offer fun and connection all day long even in these unprecedented times.
Important Visitors: Health care providers including doctors, home health, private services, physical therapists and hospital staff are not permitted in the community unless there is an urgent and critical need for our residents. This service continues as needed via FaceTime, Telemed, and phone calls. If physical access is absolutely necessary, the individual will complete our questionnaire and complete screening for temperature and oxygen statistics. No one is allowed into the community if they don’t meet our screening criteria.
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Family: We’re happy to help you schedule window visits, FaceTime, Zoom, and phone calls with your loved ones based on what’s allowable and prudent. To ensure appropriate support from our staff, our visits are pre-planned.
Tours: We recognize that despite changes due to COVID-19, your needs for aged housing have not changed. For the safety of you, our residents and staff, we are currently offering a virtual tour where you can see our community, as well as meet our staff. Please contact our Director of Public Relations to arrange a virtual tour.
Transfers: We accept a limited number of transfers (unless otherwise instructed by the Department of Public Health). New residents must undergo a COVID-19 test before moving in. Upon entry, as an added precaution, we will quarantine new occupants in their rooms.
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We will be sharing community-specific information with residents and families as our quarantine measures continue
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