What is Parkinson’s Disease
- Parkinson’s Disease is a degenerative condition that affects the central nervous system and causes brain deterioration and movement disorder.
- Parkinson’s affects almost 1 million Americans and typically occurs in middle to old age.
- Parkinson’s is a progressive condition which means that it has no cure, only symptoms that worsen over time.
Symptoms of Parkinson’s
- Muscular stiffness or rigidity
- Muscle tremors commonly in the hands, legs, and head
- Reduced mobility and coordination which can result in falls and the inability to complete tasks requiring fine motor skills
- Slowing down of movement and difficulty walking (difficulty with gait)
How Does Physical Therapy Benefit Patients with Parkinson’s
Improves Mobility and Balance
- Parkinson’s causes mobility issues (one of the most significant and notable symptoms)
- Difficulty with balance walking, and even standing due to muscular changes and stiffness in body
- Physical Therapy can help improve mobility and balance by strengthening, conditioning, and stretching muscles
- Reduces fall risk and injuries caused by mobility/ balance issues
Reduces Stiffness and Pain
- Parkinson’s causes stiffness and pain in muscles and joints
- This occurs when the brain stops producing a chemical called dopamine that helps coordination and movement in the body
- Physical Therapy works on range of motion, addresses muscle stiffness, and alleviates pain by concentrating on areas where muscles are starting to stiffen
Enhance Cardiovascular Strength
- Parkinson’s can impact cardiovascular health and can ultimately lead to higher risk of heart disease and other related conditions
- Physical Therapy includes exercises that focuses on and improves cardiovascular health such as aerobic exercises
Enhances Mental and Emotional Well-being
- Parkinson’s can be very isolating physically, as well as mentally and emotionally
- Symptoms of Parkinson’s can result in making it difficult to speak (communicate), leave the home independently, or perform daily tasks like cooking, going for walks, or visiting friends
- Physical Therapy itself can be a source of company and comfort with the therapist coming to see your loved one and engaging with them
- Physical Therapy introduces physical activity, as well as helping slow down the progression of physical symptoms,and even helping regain some independence in performing tasks like walking, changing oneself, eating, toileting, etc
- Physical Therapy improves overall well-being, reduces stress, improves mood, and increases energy levels
Reduces the Need for Medication
- Physical Therapy focuses on alleviating the symptoms of Parkinson’s and in some cases, slowing them down. In turn, this help reduce the need for medication and delay the need for aggressive treatments requiring intervention, medication, additional care
Benefits of Physical Therapy at Home
Consistency
- Parkinson’s patients can maintain consistent sessions because therapists come to them, in the comfort of their home.
Focus
- This also allows physical therapists to customize the plan to their patient’s needs, because the focus is solely on them.
Safety
- Most Parkinson’s patients with moderate to severe progression require assistance when leaving the home and are high-risk for falls, and other injuries.
- In-home care means that they are able to receive physical therapy without having to arrange for medical transportation or arranging for a caregiver to accompany them.
Personalized Care
- Therapists are able to see seniors in their home environment which allows them to specify both exercises and a treatment plan to benefit them in those surroundings.
Comfort
- The comfort of being in your own home is an added source of confidence for Parkinson’s patients who are able to focus on the therapy session without having to worry about logistics or the disorientation of being in a new environment.
Care Mountain
Our Promise
- Organizing in-home physical therapy for your loved one requires a nuanced technical understanding to develop a personalized and comprehensive care plan.
- At Care Mountain, we know that a good treatment plan for Parkinson’s typically combines therapy (Physical and Speech Therapy) with a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA or caregiver). The therapy (Physical and Speech) is typically 4-8 hours weekly, and the CNA or in-home caregiver is typically 80 hours to full-time, depending on the stage of Parkinson’s and disease progression.
- An experienced physical therapist and thoughtful care plan can be incredibly beneficial for seniors living with Parkinson’s. An experienced physical therapist has the patience, multi-faceted expertise, and knowledge to help their patients maintain their sense of self, mental acuity and physical autonomy.
- Care Mountain is well-versed in personalized treatment plans for Parkinson’s which focus on combining highly experienced certified nursing assistants (CNA’s or caregivers), Physical Therapists, and Speech Pathologists to provide high quality in-home care to improve their client’s quality of life.
Our Commitment
- Our quality caregivers undergo national background checks, extensive reference checks, and in-person interviews to ensure that they can provide the expert and personalized care necessary for a successful live-in care plan.
- Our goal is to help your loved one age with agency and dignity under the care of our experienced caregivers and physical therapists.
Our Expertise
- We have extensive experience with over 2 decades of providing 24/7 live-in care , including high quality physical therapists in the Dallas and Fort Worth area.
- We work with families across the DFW Metroplex from Arlington, Southlake, Preston Hollow, Highland Park, Plano, McKinney, Allen and Friso.
- Care Mountain is well-versed in understanding the nuances and specifics of every family’s unique needs for their loved ones.
When you work with Care Mountain to manage your loved ones needs, our commitment is to ensure high quality care with a personalized care plan.
Contact us today to help with your physical therapy needs
2023-02-27 21:25:30
Gagan Bhalla is the Executive Director of Care Mountain Home Health Care. For over 19 years, Care Mountain has offered dedicated expertise in senior in-home care in the Dallas Fort Worth area. Managing seven locations across Texas, Gagan has committed his life to enhancing the well-being of seniors and their families needing home health care. Through insightful articles and blogs, he shares his wealth of knowledge, empowering families to make informed decisions about home care. Trust Gagan’s experience to guide you on the path to compassionate and professional senior care.