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Care
Strategies in the Late Stage
The
following chart outlines the different care strategies
that you will need to understand when making decisions
in the late stage of the disease:
| Extraordinary
medical care |
The
goal of this type of treatment is to prolong life
using all available types of treatment. For example,
for an individual with advanced Alzheimer's disease,
it might involve using kidney dialysis for kidney
failure, tube feeding when swallowing is no longer
possible, or cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
to restart the heart. |
| Conservative
medical care |
The
goal of this type of treatment is to maintain or
improve current health status. For an individual
with Alzheimer's disease, it might include using blood
pressure medication to treat high blood pressure,
insulin for diabetes or setting a fractured hip. |
| Comfort
or palliative care |
The
goal of this type of treatment is to provide comfort
when there is no treatment for an illness and death
is near. Pain control is a priority, as is the emotional
and spiritual support to the individual and the family. |
Another
decision to be considered in the late stage is whether
or not an autopsy should be performed. For some, knowing
conclusively if the person had Alzheimer's disease is extremely
important. Others may wish to participate in research
by donating brain tissue. Plans for an autopsy or tissue
donation must be put in place prior to the person's death.
Speak to the doctor about your wishes. Since protocols
vary from region to region, your local
Alzheimer Society can help you with questions you
may have.
For
information on donating brain tissue for research,
contact the following centres:
Maritime Brain Tissue Bank
Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology
Room 12D, Faculty of Medicine
Dalhousie University
Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 1X5
Phone: (902) 494-2007
Douglas Hospital Research Centre Brain Bank
(Donors must be Quebec residents)
6875 LaSalle Blvd.
Verdun, QC H4H 1R3
Tel: (514) 761-6131, ext. 0 and ask for the Brain Bank
E-mail: brain.bank@douglas.mcgill.ca
Web: http://www.douglasrecherche.qc.ca/brain-banks/general-bank.asp?l=e
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