Vascular dementia. How long left?

[Rebecca9210]

I just am looking for advice but I know there is no one that can give me the correct answer.
My grandad is now in a nursing home. He has vascular dementia. He has really declined since he hasn't been able to see family for 5 months. When I see him he has no idea who I am. He is either angry or really sad and says he wants to die.
He can eat and walk with a frame but has to have a one to one care as he forgets he can't walk without it. Strangely, when I speak to him on the phone he remembers who I am. Even when I visit, if I speak to him on his mobile and he shuts his eyes, he will speak to me.
I just want to know people's experiences. I know how unhappy my grandad is and it is awful seeing him so sad. For his sake and mine it is going to be extremely difficult if this lasts for years even though that sounds selfish. Thanks in advance xxx

Ten years, and still going strong here. Unfortunately . It's my FIL, who at 89 is still as physically strong as an ox.
Sorry if that's not what you wanted to hear, it's heartbreaking and inexplicably cruel.

It's shit all round
My father had it and died within 2 years of diagnosis. It was a huge relief when it happened. I was terrified it would be decades.

Thank you. It feels surreal to ever think about hoping a family members life is shorter. In the past 4 months, he has also had sepsis, Covid, pnomenia and has fallen many times with two falls resulting in broken hips and had 2 hip operations. He is so strong

@Rebecca9210
Oops, sorry, not sure why that happened, but, I was going to say. I know how you feel. I'm in pretty much the same situation with my mum and it's rubbish. I feel for you

@Rebecca9210, sorry, ignore the first part of my previous post. I thought I had just quoted your name and nothing else. It's clearly one of those mornings

My mother had this moderately, she was confused but died before reaching the point where she didn’t recognise people. I was so relieved that she still knew us all.
I think there is no clear progression or timescale. My mother just faded away really, she ate less and snoozed more and then eventually stopped wanting to eat. It was about three years overall, although she was unwell before that she was still living at home and mostly coping.
Is your Grandfather very elderly ? It sounds so upsetting, it is such a bloody awful thing to happen to someone you love, I am sorry.

Yes. He has just turned 93 but up until the Nov which is when he had the stroke, leading to dementia, he was completely independent and walked a mile a day. Its just horrible and it sounds like this could potentially last for years

Yes, sadly it could very much last for years. It depends on whether he has more small strokes, and how he himself behaves now, whether he eats well , that kind of thing. He could go at any point . I am so sorry that he is very unhappy, that may change, moods do tend to shift.

DMIL was diagnosed 6 years ago and is still physically very good but doesn't really remember any of anymore.

Prognosis- ie time left is very hard to judge.

Factors that might affect it

How quickly he's deteriorated and whether that deterioration is continuing (ie a one off major stroke or one that includes further vascular events occurring- TIAs / mini strokes)

He's in a nursing home not a residential home indicating he has multiple physical health and nursing needs too, which show his health is poorly already.

How far has his dementia progressed already, you mentioned he recognises your voice but does he know where he is? Does he recognise other people and what year or season it is? The further his dementia has progressed the further along he is ...

Research is available online that will tell you morbidity rates post dementia diagnosis at the point people are sufficiently disorientated enough to enter residential or nursing homes care (two different levels) - some of it is old research based on previous now improved models of care- but really no one can tell you as it depends on so many other factors about your grandad's health. He could have months, 2 years or far more years (eg 4-10+ years)

But he'll be in the best place to live longer with a team of nursing and care staff around him ensuring he can eat drink have his medical needs met and is safe & appropriately supported in comfort