I'm pretty sure it does not mean not knowing anyone, or not being able to speak, or express pain, or do the simplest of life's tasks.. like bathing, grooming, toileting and eating. I don't think it means lost in fear or existing in the abyss of Alzheimer's.

Ron was a very proud man. He would be mortified if he knew how he was now. AND.. maybe he does .. who knows. His quality of life ended when he could no longer play golf, enjoy a good movie, enjoy a joke, read the newspaper, speak, or take care of his personal care or think. The spark went out of his eyes several years ago.

I expect it would mean different things to different people.

It really does change doesn't it. I KNOW my mom hated the thought of going to an NH but now that she is there she still has "some" quality of life. Its not the life I would want but if I had Alzheimers to that extent I would know nothing else so perhaps its OK. People often say when someone dies..."They've gone to a better place"...well that will definitely be true for my mom...I can't think of a worse place or worse state to be in for Jam's Ron.

should have said Judy's Ron...Judy you ARE a saint!

Sincere Love that is unconditional is what a quality of life should be. Must be my mood.

Food, clothing, shelter, safety, the basics...to have someone who cares, someone you feel safe with no matter how lost, to be able to still feel joy....even though it may not be from the same things as earlier in your life.

Quality of life is hard with these diseases...but having someone to watch over and protect your soul and body from harm and love you through it all is a blessing many never have, but they have with you all.

Bless you all for providing the key to quality of life...your heart.

I think it means accepting the current situation and trying to make the present as good as it can be for that person.

I have Carcinoid (cancer) tumors and I don't want aggressive treatment. As a former Hospice nurse, I feel quality of life is much more important than quantity (of life). I want to do what I want and not have to drink nasty tasting stuff in order to be tested. I also don't want to have to lie still for 2 hours while they scan me. I want to live each day as if it is my last. Enjoy!
My best friend has Alzheimers and for her, quality of life is today. I am not sure which one of us has it worse. Cancer or Alzheimers???
I guess we all gotta die of something!

Interesting discussion. Quality of life to me is dignity, respect, contributing, being in the moment, purpose, loving and being loved. It is not fear, humiliation, aloneness, or nothingness. To just exist is devastating to me. What must they feel, and do they feel? I don't know.

Zebransa, sorry to hear about your illness but I do admire your attitude. I think that I do not want to know if I am about to die, I would rather live in oblivion.

Dibbie...I love your comment. I believe my mom does know to some extent what is wrong and she knows how short her life has been (she's 85). I do admire the way she "continues to continue" given the circumstance, however I know they do have moments of "understanding" and I'm sure deep sadness and grief.

I think quality of life, is all the things Deborah mentioned.
Though also, having a little something that can allow one to experience joy/happiness (if possible).
My Dad, is still in the early stages. There's much I don't know, still, about Alz.

DEBORAH,
I THINK I'M MORE LIKE YOU, IF THRE IS SOMETHING SERIOUSLY WRONG WITH ME I'D JUST AS SOON NOT KNOW ABOUT IT, PARTICULARLY IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS EITHR INCURABLE OR WHERE THE CURE WOULD BE WORSE THEN THE DISEASE.
I HAVE WATCHED WAY TO MANY FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS GO THROUGH SO MUCH PAIN AND SUFFERRING WHILE BEING TREATED FOR CANCERS ONLY TO DIE INSPITE OF BEST EFFORTS. I SAW THE QUALITY OF LIFE THEY DIDN'T HAVE WHILE UNDERGOING THESE TREATMENTS AND MADE UP MY MIND YEARS AGO THAT I WOULD NOT GO THROUGH ALL THAT IF I DEVELOP A SIMILAR DISEASE.
I ALSO WOULD NOT WANT TO LEAVE MY FAMILY WITH THE EXPENSES THESE TREATMENTS GENERATE.

FOR ME QUALITY OF LIFE MEANS MY MIND IS STILL ACTIVE AND QUESTING, THAT MY BODY IS STILL ABLE TO FOLLOW, EVEN IF MORE SLOWLY, THE ADVENTURES OF MY MIND AND THAT I STILL HAVE A LUST FOR LIFE AND LIVING.
I WOULD MUCH RATHER HAVE JOY AND PURPOSE THEN LONGEVITY.

I would not want to live just for the sake of being alive.

I kind of had an ulterior motive for posting this topic. I am hoping that if any of us gets to the point where we have to make really hard decisions that we can review these answers and find some guidance.

WOW.I read all your "qualitiy of life' comments and everyone touched me. I know Alzheimers was the one disease my husband always hoped he would never get. Not that any are good.....but he always said "If I lose dignity and no longer know who I am or what I am doing I no longer wish to be here because the quality of life is gone." Of course he didn't have the disease then...... now we are faced with this dreaded disease and I just don't know what I feel as I am in a constant state of change as he is. I believe we are at the MODERATE stage...while there have been many bad days there are still some good times and I grab every moment of those for what they are. When i say good I mean good for one of us.....not good by the standards of what life used to be. That is becoming more and more a distant memory. Sher