Dementia is a confusing and complex condition that involves cognitive decline, memory loss, and damaged daily functioning. Once the disease progresses, the patient’s functional abilities decline rapidly. With the aid of FAST (Functional Assessment Staging Tool), a valuable instrument for assessing the progression of dementia, caregivers or the patient themselves can determine the stage of dementia.
As this tool has recently started gaining familiarity amongst the community it’s better to understand all about it to stay one step ahead. Let’s learn about this dynamic tool here.
What Exactly is FAST (Functional Assessment Staging Tool)?
Functional Assessment Staging Tool, also known as FAST scale for dementia or FAST or Reisberg Functional Assessment Staging scale, is an instrument that is used by caregivers to check the level of functional impairment of the diagnosed person. It was created by Dr. Barry Reisberg, a prominent expert in Alzheimer’s disease.
This tool evaluates quantitatively a functional capacity and addresses the changes that happen over time. But, the tool should not be used as the sole criteria for diagnosing and distinguish between the types of dementia. It is employed by healthcare professionals, family members and physicians to track the progression of the disease in patients.
Navigating FAST (Functional Assessment Staging Tool) Scores
The FAST scale dementia tool provides a scale-by-scale representation of the advancement of the disease. Here is a chart that will help you in navigating it:
Stage 1 – Normally function/ zero cognitive impairment
Stage 2 – A typical memory decline in the elderly
Stage 3 – Early stage of dementia/ Difficulty in performing complex tasks
Stage 4 – Trouble in forgetting things and task evaluation
Stage 5 – Difficulty in living independently and have trouble performing simple tasks
Stage 6 – Moderately Severe dementia/ Inability to take care of oneself/ Requires 24/7 Supervision
Stage 7 – Severe Dementia/ Total Loss of cognitive and memory ability
How Should a FAST Score Be Used?
Basically, a dementia fast scale is used with patients who are going through a severe case of dementia and have only a few months of life left. At this time, it is crucial to contact hospice care or a senior living facility to help during the advantageous stages of the patient’s disease. However, it is uncommon for family members to start using the FAST scale at the early stage. So, if one wants to stay ahead of the progression of dementia, it’s better to start using the FAST scale at the earliest stage.
When is a Dementia Patient Eligible for Hospice?
A dementia patient becomes eligible for hospice care if his FAST scale (Functional Assessment Staging Tool) reaches stage 7 and has very poor functional decline. More specifically, one determines eligibility when the patient cannot dress, bathe, or toilet himself without help and has also minimal verbal communication, typically fewer than six intelligible words.
The patient will also depend on ample support feeding and develop mobility problems, such as being confined to bed or not being able to remain seated without support. Furthermore, eligibility for hospice care involves associated medical conditions like recurring infections and severe weight loss, further emphasizing the need for hospice care.
What is the Purpose of the FAST Scale?
With the help of dementia FAST scale, medical professionals can assess and diagnose the progressive stages of dementia disease. By using the FAST scale, doctors can:
Track Disease Progression:
Regular use of the FAST scale allows healthcare providers to track the progression of dementia by identifying changes in cognitive function and behavior. These changes may include memory loss, language difficulties, impaired judgment, and mood swings like anxiety or agitation. It also helps detect functional decline, such as difficulty with tasks like dressing, bathing, or eating. By monitoring these changes, providers can adjust care plans and interventions accordingly.
Determine Eligibility for Hospice Care:
The FAST scale will help to ascertain whether the patient suffering from advanced dementia may be eligible for hospice care. Hospice care focuses on providing a human-focused range of medical and emotional support meant for patients with terminal diseases such as dementia. Evaluation of a patient’s level of functional impairment, along with any decline in cognitive function, can establish such eligibility requirements for hospice services.
Develop Personalized Care Plans:
The FAST dementia scale can be used to create individualized care plans that address the specific needs of each patient. This may involve:
- Cognitive stimulation: Puzzles, games, or other mentally challenging activities that can help keep one’s mind active.
- Behavioral interventions: Use interventions to encourage and control challenging behavior, like agitation or wandering.
- Medication management: This involves monitoring and adjusting medication to help alleviate anxiety, depression, or sleep disorders.
- Supportive services: Providing help with activities of daily living, including bathing, dressing, and eating.
- Emotional support: Providing a counseling and caregiving process to the patient and the caregiver.
Conclusion
Doctors and caregivers use the FAST scale to measure the severity and progression of dementia. Mostly, it is a well-validated and reliable tool, but providing a diagnosis based on its result only may not be a wise decision. Healthcare professionals use more than one tool to determine the stage of a patient’s dementia. So, make sure to use other tools alongside the FAST dementia scale to get exact results.