phenomenon in advanced alzheimers

[adrienurse, LPN]

Maybe some of you neuro or geriatrics people can help me.

I wonder if you can help me here. I'm trying to learn more about a phenomenon in late stage alzheimers disease where there doesn't seem to have been a lot of research or discussion about.

There seems to be a common state in the vegetative stage of this disease where the person becomes very stiff and seems to physically retreat within themselves as if they are trying to constantly be in the fixed fetal position. The person, just no longer wants to move spontaneously anymore. The neck seems to either hyperextend or nod inwards, the arms draw into the chest and the knees as well.

I realize that there is a neurological basis to this and also has to do with methods of body positioning and lack of ROM exercising.

Anyway, does anyone know what this state or phenomenon is called. This would really help me understand more about it.

[CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN]

This is very common in the late stages. Often at this point the pt is in a locked in state...total care, nonverbal, little or no eye contact, refuses or unable to eat. I'm not sure the patho phys behind it and don't have any website addy handy, but try alzhimers alliance.org or com... or something like that. There are tons of info out there..or just try a google search with late stage alz disease??

[ejm99]

My step grandfather did this after a severe stroke.

Everyone was talking about him going to rehab and all that and everyday I could see him getting WORSE....I was in nursing school and asked why the family wasn't being told HONESTLY what was going on..and my instructor said that alot of times the dr's just want them OUT of their hospital and rehab is a better place to pass ??

Well my step dad was getting so optimistic etc..and yet gfather was getting more confused, beginning to curl, he wouldn't stay in bed unless restrained UNLESS (I figured this one out and talked to a nurse about it) he was HOLDING something...I went and bought him a frog...like a kids stuffed animal from the gift shop because I hated seeing him restrained and he was getting so combative yet still "2 more days til rehab mr G. " ! WHAT?!

I knew what was coming....so once I gave him teh frog..he held on to it for dear life....almost literally I think...

and my step dad wanted some of the meds dosed down so he could function more NORMALLY....still don't get that one.

Well they gradually did ...and yet by the day they moved him to rehab he was completely withdrawn, NOT combative though unless you tried to take the frog...and restraints weren't necessary (a blessing in my eyes)....but they moved him at 11pm and he wasn't in his room at rehab but 2 hours before he passed away.

It was sad...but I had talked to my s-dad...told him my feelings on what was happening ...showed him what I found in my texts and other research..and he had 1/2 way accepted that he was not going to come home...still for the rest of the family who had been going on the lines the dr's were feeding them it was hard.

My s-dad brought me the frog ....said it was prob one of hte best gifts I could ever have given anyone.

So I don't know...but when I see someone retreating like that I always think the end is coming and want do what I can to make them comfortable and at peace.