The journey of dementia is painfully distressing, both for the person concerned and the caregiver. A proper understanding of the stages of dementia, however, can facilitate the right support and care in the direction needed. Herein lies the importance of the FAST Scale in assessing the functional capabilities of a person with dementia.
The functional assessment staging test provides the person with the opportunity to evaluate the progress of dementia. It is a chart or tool that enables one to carry out a more systematic and organized analysis regarding the stages of dementia. This chart divides the stages of dementia, ranging from very mild to severe.
The health condition and needs of the person are clearly mentioned at each stage of the chart, which will help the caregivers evaluate the situation of the person.
FAST Scale’s Categorization of Different Stages of Dementia
Let’s discuss how FAST scale dementia divides dementia into different stages and can help identify dementia in an early stage.
- Stage 1
Everything appears to be normal in stage 1 of dementia, with absolutely no signs of dementia appearing. Generally, people suffering from this stage have good physical and mental health. Another name for this stage may be no cognitive decline because there is simply no noticeable limitation in cognitive or functional aspects.
People also do not face any problem in continuing their daily work and are also able to do several things by themselves. The memory of the person is normal at this stage, the person acts like a normal individual, and there are no signs and symptoms of dementia.
- Stage 2
This stage of FAST score dementia can be called a very mild cognitive decline stage, as the person may start to show subtle changes in cognition at this stage. People in this stage continue doing their daily activities without any struggle.
They can independently handle daily tasks. This stage is commonly associated with typical aging, and memory lapses are frequent among people suffering from stage 2. They may struggle to recall names or have difficulty finding the right words. People may also find it challenging to concentrate and may misplace objects. However, these symptoms are mild and can go unnoticed by the family.
- Stage 3
At this FAST scale dementia stage, early signs of dementia become evident, and people experience a more apparent decline. Memory lapses become more frequent for the person and go beyond typical aging. The person suffering from stage 3 dementia encounters difficulties with daily tasks that were once effortless. These challenges arise due to frequent memory issues.
The person may have difficulty when traveling to new locations and can get lost more frequently. There is a visible decline in the person’s work performance and slight difficulty focusing. Unlike stage 2, signs of stage 3 can be noticed by friends or family.
- Stage 4
This is a moderate cognitive decline FAST score dementia stage where people struggle with complex tasks like handling finances or planning activities. This stage often leads people to seek assistance managing their medications and daily chores.
The declining cognitive functions are noticeable with intensive memory loss. The person might not recall recent events, and meal preparation or bill payment becomes challenging. At this stage, a person restricts himself from engaging in social interactions and shows deteriorating language abilities.
- Stage 5
This stage is referred to as the moderately severe cognitive decline stage by the FAST scale for dementia. In this stage, the person cannot perform his daily activities independently. He requires help in getting dressed or taking a bath. The person suffering from this stage of dementia may have significant cognitive and functional limitations with declining memory.
This stage causes the person to forget addresses or personal information. The person depends on other people for daily tasks and loses the ability to live independently. The individual also suffers from problematic behaviors such as hallucinations, confusion, and wandering. Therefore, at this stage, the individual requires full-time assistance.
- Stage 6
In this FAST score dementia stage, people suffer from severe cognitive impairment, having difficulty comprehending or responding to communications. People may not recognize their loved ones or do not remember their names. They can even forget their own personal information or recent events.
They are extremely dependent on their family for daily activities like bathing, eating, etc. People may have difficulty dressing properly without assistance and find it difficult to manage the toilet’s mechanics. People suffering from this stage may experience urinary or fecal incontinence.
- Stage 7
This is the last stage of dementia, showing advanced symptoms. In this stage, the person loses communication capabilities, and physical activity becomes negligible. The person’s communication ability is limited to a few words, which are also not comprehendible.
The FAST scale for dementia calls this stage a very severe cognitive decline stage. The vocabulary in this stage is reduced to a few words that the person may repeat continuously. People in this stage require extensive assistance for daily activities and cannot perform any tasks independently. Therefore, people with stage 7 require specialized memory care and help with daily life.
Conclusion
People in different stages require specialized dementia care and support tailored to their specific needs. The FAST Scale helps health professionals apply strategies based on the particular requirements at each stage. It identifies the severity of the illness and guides caregivers in providing the best care for individuals with dementia. Thus, the FAST Scale is an effective tool that equips caregivers with greater awareness in assessing dementia.
