In the United States, there are approximately a million people that suffer from Parkinson’s. Parkinson’s is a Degenerative Neurological disorder that progresses over time – from mild to late stages, this disease causes increased symptoms and difficulties not only for the patient, but also for family members. 

Caring for someone with Parkinson’s is not easy. It requires:

    1. A LOT of attention to detail and huge amounts of patience, 
    2. An in-depth understanding of Parkinson’s symptoms, and coordinated, consistent care between family members and professional caregivers 
    3. A recognition of the importance of medication timing, and the ability to provide systematic care support for key activities of daily life on an ongoing, consistent basis. 

When you care for someone with Parkinson’s, being organized and planful is paramount to reduce stress for them and you. Each patient’s journey with Parkinson’s is different, therefore the care approach also varies – this makes it necessary to personalize care plans and caregivers to have a sustainable in-home care plan for long-term success.

With our deep experience in caring for Parkinson’s patients, this article provides you useful tips below to take care of your loved one in your home.

Parkinson’s In-Home Care and personalized care plan

Professional in-home care is your best option for long-term success in managing the progression of Parkinson’s for your loved one and balance your life accordingly.

Develop a personalized care plan according to the person’s condition (including proper diet, exercise, sleep, medications) and appoint a suitable caregiver team to help your loved one’s care per this personalized care plan.

professional caregiving taking care of a Parkinson's patient at their homes

Home Safety Precautions for Parkinson’s disease

One of the most common symptoms of Parkinson’s is mobility problems – therefore, home safety and accessibility come first. Here is a basic checklist to minimize their fall risk:

1- Flooring

2- Lightning

3- Furniture Arrangements

4- Kitchen Modifications

5- Bathroom Adjustments

Simplify activities of daily life for a Parkinson’s patient

Many of the activities of daily life (e.g. walking, showering, changing) which we take for granted cause immense difficulty for a Parkinson’s patient. So, simplifying their daily chores will be an important task. Fortunately, you can take care of your loved one and maintain their quality of life at home with adaptations like:

1- Personal care tips

2- Getting Dressed With Parkinson’s

trembling hands of a Parkinson's patient finding it difficult to hold a glass of water.3- Eating with Parkinson’s

Helping Parkinson’s Patients With Mobility

1- Freezing 

Freezing is a common Parkinson’s symptom in which the person suddenly loses complete control over movement and his/her hands and legs feel rigid.

2- Exercising

doctor helping a patient of Parkinson's to maintain their balance with exercise

Exercising can be difficult, but is VERY beneficial for the mobility of a person with Parkinson’s – physiologically, it helps the brain to use dopamine. a chemical involved in movement to help.

3- Inability to swallow 

Difficulty or inability to swallow (dysphagia) is a disturbing symptom of Parkinson’s that affects 80% of the patients.

Planning for cognitive changes for a Parkinson’s patient

1- Watch for Hallucinations

Hallucinations (seeing or hearing something that is not there) become common in severe stages of Parkinson’s and are usually caused by an increased dopamine level (a neurotransmitter) which is not good for their mobility problems.

2- Cognitive changes and Parkinson’s

In the middle to last stages, Parkinson’s causes changes in behavior and cognitive decline (most commonly Alzheimer’s and Dementia) in your loved ones, and it can adversely affect their mobility.

3- Managing Sleep with Parkinson’s

Planning for REM sleep for a Parkinson’s patient is critical to slowing cognitive declines. Parkinson’s creates many challenges to getting rest and a good night’s sleep, both for the patient and the caregiver – this is triggered due to limited mobility, the effect of meds causing bad dreams or hallucinations, and frequent nighttime visits to the bathroom due to limited bladder control. Here are a few tips:

4- SKILLED THERAPIES, TREATMENT, MEDICATIONS

While there is no cure to Parkinson’s disease, there are certain therapeutic interventions that can help in minimizing its side effects by preventing muscle spasms, swallowing difficulties, loss of balance, speech problems, and correcting unsteady gait. These are some essential elements that play a vital role in a patient in-home care plan for Parkinson’s and in the related cognitive declines that are more frustrating for the affected person than their family:

CONSISTENT FAMILY MEMBER & CAREGIVERS’ BEHAVIOR

In our experience, a consistent approach between family and professional caregivers is CRITICAL in managing the progressive nature of Parkinson’s and related cognitive declines. While they may sound overly simplistic, these basic principles need your full commitment to be helpful in caring for your loved one with Parkinson’s at home.

OVERALL TAKEAWAYS

Parkinson’s impacts the physical, mental, and social abilities of your loved ones. It must be their family members and professional caregivers who help ease their lives by planning ahead and resolving the issues ahead of time – We, at Care Mountain, have been providing in-home care for Parkinson’s patients for one and a half decades with our proven and personalized approach. 

We are a high-quality, in-home care provider and have served over 3000+ families in DFW over the past 16 years. We have highly experienced caregivers available to support you and your loved ones’ care.  

Give us a call to discuss your needs.

2022-01-18 18:33:19

Caring For a Loved One with Parkinson’s At Home – Tips For Long-Term Success!