Send to a Friend

What can I expect in regards to my father’s advanced dementia?
This question is for those of you who have had someone close who has been suffering with dementia.
My father is 96 years old and lives with my wife and two of my adult children who have moved in to help care for him. He has been battling advanced dementia for several years, and his condition has significantly deteriorated in just the last six weeks or so. He is in hospice care and has been for the last eight months. Despite this, he remains the same wonderfully polite man who always prioritizes others. Although he no longer calls us by our names, he still recognizes us and understands that we are important to him. His mind may be slipping away, but his kind and selfless spirit endures. However, he has started to be a bit more obstinate lately.
I know everyone’s experience with this is different and it varies from person to person, but what can I expect going forward? What are your experiences and your stories with the loved ones you have gone through this with?
I find myself falling into depression on occasion and think that perhaps reading about what others have gone through might make me feel less alone with this, even though I know I am not.
Using Fluther
or