Stages of Alzheimer's: A Family Caregiver's Guide

Why the stages matter

Alzheimer’s changes over time, and so does the help your loved one needs. Knowing the stages won’t tell you exactly what’s coming or when. It will tell you what kind of help is likely to be needed next, and what that help will ask of you. The Alzheimer’s Association and the National Institute on Aging describe three broad stages: early (mild), middle (moderate) and late (severe). On average, people live 4 to 8 years after diagnosis, and some live as long as 20.

That care takes a toll on families. Nearly 13 million Americans give unpaid care to someone living with dementia, and 59 percent of them rate their emotional stress as high or very high (Alzheimer’s Association, 2026 Facts and Figures). This Alzheimer’s caregiver guide is built to help you plan ahead instead of reacting to each change.

What’s in the guide

• A timeline of the three stages, from the first brain changes through the late stage.
• What you may see at each stage, and what your role looks like.
• A caregiver checklist for each stage, from legal documents to hospice.
• Six questions to ask your loved one’s doctor.
• How respite care works, and Central Oregon numbers to call for support.

Plan a break before you need one

Respite care is short-term relief for the main caregiver, from a few hours to several weeks, at home, at an adult day center or in a care facility (National Institute on Aging). If your loved one is in hospice, Medicare covers most of the cost of up to five days of respite care. The guide lists who to call in Central Oregon, including the Alzheimer’s Association 24/7 Helpline and the Council on Aging of Central Oregon.

For the longer version, read our article, Stages of Alzheimer's: Understanding Progression & Care Needs.