It’s hard to predict how quickly dementia will progress
The progress of dementia differs for each person. Age, physical health, the type of dementia, the environment in which you live as well as many other factors, including how you are managing, influence the nature of symptoms and how dementia progresses.
In general, dementia that starts at a younger age can progress more quickly. Those who are diagnosed before age 65 typically live around 7-10 years after symptoms begin, though this can vary a lot from person to person.
Although progression varies for each person, dementia tends to follow a relatively predictable pattern – usually called ‘stages’. Some staging of the disease is simply described as early, middle and late (or advanced) dementia. There are other more detailed ways of staging how far the dementia has progressed and you can read a summary here.
It is important to remember that there are treatments for dementia and maintaining a healthy lifestyle can support wellbeing and may slow symptom progression. Key strategies include aerobic exercise and resistance training, following a Mediterranean or MIND diet, managing heart health, staying socially and mentally active, and using hearing aids or glasses if needed. For more information go to section four of this website, Supporting wellbeing.
Decline and getting support
Over time, people living with dementia experience more symptoms and have trouble doing things for themselves. See the page Use therapies to maintain independence.
As the disease spreads, dementia interferes with how the brain controls the body. This can lead to poor coordination and balance, difficulty walking and increased risk of falls. It can also result in incontinence. People living with dementia become increasingly frail and may have trouble swallowing or breathing. They usually pass away because of medical complications or an infection such as pneumonia.
As dementia progresses, there is help available. There are services which help you to keep having a meaningful life and continue living at home.
Some people with dementia may go into a nursing home
Most people want to live in their own home and not in a nursing home (or residential aged care home). Many families want to continue to support their person at home and avoid nursing home care if possible. Unfortunately, some people with dementia have to go into a nursing home because they do not have someone who can support them at their home, or because their family and friends are not able to support them to live at home safely.
It is not inevitable that you will go into a nursing home. About 70% of Australians with dementia live in the community, and 30% live in a nursing home. We know that some treatments and supports which help people adjust to dementia also delay their need to go into a nursing home. Even though it might seem like using services might mean you’re giving up some independence, they might actually be helping you keep your independence. These services often help you to stay in your own home for longer. If you end up in hospital, doctors are more likely to let you go home if you have services in place to support you there.
Plan for the future to stay in control
Some people with dementia choose to prepare for a time when their dementia gets worse and they can no longer make decisions or need to go into a nursing home. Planning can help you feel better prepared for the future and can make things easier for your family. Planning can include visiting nursing homes and deciding on ones you’d prefer to go to if needed.
Read the section Making plans and decisions.
