Section 5
Progression of Dementia Three important influences on the life-span of dementia are the type of dementia, the stage of dementia, and whether the course of deterioration is rapid or slow (43,88). Life expectancy of the person with dementia Although dementia is a progressive, life limiting and an incurable condition, it is not possible to clearly predict a person’s life expectancy and this uncertainty can be very challenging for the person with dementia and their relatives/friends. Although, specific life expectancy cannot be provided, there are some indicators below that healthcare staff can provide on the probable life expectancy of the person: • 4.5 years is the average survival time for a person living with dementia (88). However, some people can live for 20 years post diagnosis. • Half of the people with late stage dementia will die within 1.3 years (43).
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Facilitating discussions on future and end-of-life care with a person with dementia
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