The cost of treating dementia patients is significant. The global societal costs are estimated at more than $600 billion in 2010, a figure that represented roughly 1 percent of global gross domestic product. There were slightly lower costs in low-income countries versus high-income countries.

Three Stages of Dementia

Dementia can affect each patient in a different way, but there are three generally understood stages of its development.

In the early stage, forgetfulness increases. Patients frequently lose track of time or become lost even in places they’ve frequented hundreds of times. The familiar starts to become foreign at times, but because this is gradual process, many people dismiss it as a momentary lapse.

As the disease progresses, afflicted patients start forgetting people’s names, get lost in their own homes or isn’t in touch with recent events. Communication in this stage becomes increasingly difficult, and unless the patient has a person living with them that monitors personal care, their physical style can deteriorate. They often ask repetitive questions and may wander aimlessly.

In the late stages of dementia, it’s become obvious that there’s a problem, as the afflicted has a total dependence on care and is often inactive, with obvious physical signs of decay. A late-stage dementia patient has no awareness of place and time, can’t recognize family members, may have difficulty walking, needs constant care and will have potentially aggressive behavior changes that may require restraints. This raises the issue of dementia patient human rights, an unsolvable and unenforceable issue but one that legislatures grapple with constantly.