Dementia is frequently divided into stages.
The most frequently used staging system divides dementia into “Mild”, “Moderate” and “Severe”. The Dartmouth Dementia Directive provides an opportunity to request different types of care, depending on the stage of dementia. For example, an individual may want one form of medical care in the stage of mild dementia, and something else in severe dementia.
However, it is important to realize that no person fits perfectly into any one stage and that individuals can seem to fluctuate between one stage and another at any given point in time.
The document, "Stages of Dementia", describes the common signs and symptoms in each stage of dementia and may be consulted for guidance by the individual completing the directive.
The document, "For Agents and Medical Providers: Determining the Stage of Dementia Using the Dementia Severity Rating Scale (DSRS)," should be used by the health care agent (Durable Power of Attorney) and the individual’s health care provider to determine the current stage of dementia, if and when it has been determined that the individual lacks decision-making capacity.