The more they can participate in every day activities, in social settings, the more apt they are to maintain higher cognitive skills for a longer amount of time. Still rare, but a growing resource, are Assisted Living Facilities that accept patients with Alzheimer's disease. These provide the person with a pseudo-independent lifestyle, encouraging them to maintain higher cognitive skills. As the Alzheimer's disease patient slips into the middle stages of the disease, more stress is placed on the primary caregiver. Respite for the primary caregiver is very important during the middle stages of the disease.
Caregivers are at risk for health problems of their own.
In many cases, financial concerns add to their burden. Home care may be an option, but may place a strain on the financial situation. Sometimes, reaching out to the local church or synagogue can assist the family with finding someone to provide time off to the caregiver. The final stage of Alzheimer's disease represents a shell of the person that once was. Ambulatory function has stopped, incontinence and bed sores have set in, and strained foods become the steady diet.