Caring for a loved one with Parkinson’s disease can be both rewarding and challenging as the condition progresses over time. Parkinson’s care at home provides a practical solution for families looking to ensure their loved ones receive the right support while maintaining independence and comfort in familiar surroundings.
This type of care focuses on tailoring assistance to meet the unique needs of individuals with Parkinson’s, helping them manage symptoms, maintain their quality of life, and navigate the complexities of this progressive condition.
Let’s explore the challenges of Parkinson’s disease, common complications, and how Parkinson’s care at home providers can make a significant difference for both patients and caregivers.
What is Parkinson’s Disease?
Parkinson’s disease is a progressive disease where a person’s deteriorates, leading to a movement disorder of the nervous system. It most often affects people over the age of 60 and the ability of that person to control their muscles, maintain balance as well as possibly change their abilities to think, process emotions, and use their senses.
Why Does Parkinson’s Disease Progress?
At the beginning stages of Parkinson’s disease, your loved one or you might notice he has a tremor in his hands, struggles to walk smoothly (his legs may freeze up when walking), or his speech may start to become impaired, and he slurs his words or cannot create enough volume to be heard well.
As the brain’s nerve cells (called neurons) slowly break down or die, symptoms of the disease begin to increase. Your loved one’s brain will receive less dopamine, and that will lead to irregular brain activity.
Complications From Parkinson’s Disease
In addition to the physical and movement changes that Parkinson’s disease can create, those changes can lead to other complications for your loved one as the disease progresses.
- Sleep Problems: Some Parkinson’s patients develop a disorder affecting their rapid eye movement as they sleep, creating vivid nightmares and making them act out their dreams as they sleep.
- Swallowing Issues: When the muscles of the mouth begin to become affected by the disease’s progress, your loved one may struggle with eating and swallowing. This can lead to your loved one not getting enough nutrients and may cause a diet overhaul to help him safely eat the right amount of calories each day.
- Emotional Issues Like Depression and Anxiety: It’s not uncommon for Parkinson’s patients to struggle with their mental health as they watch the changes to their physical health and lose the ability to do much to change the progress of the disease.
- Cognitive Decline: In the later stages of the disease, Parkinson’s can affect a person’s ability to remember clearly, reason logically, and clearly communicate their thoughts.
Getting Support from Parkinson’s Care at Home
Since there is no cure at this time for Parkinson’s disease, family caregivers of those who have Parkinson’s disease know that their loved one’s symptoms will continue to progress. While it might be possible to manage his care at home alone in the beginning stages, further deterioration of his abilities to do things independently may require assistance to help him continue to live at home while providing a bit of respite for the caregiver.
A Parkinson’s care at home provider will customize their care for your loved one and his situation so that they can help in areas that will enrich his life and offer him the ability to remain independent longer. A Parkinson’s care at home provider may assist with home care chores such as preparing meals or folding laundry. They may also assist with personal care needs such as grooming, bathing, or getting dressed. It all depends on what you and your loved one need.
As your loved one’s needs change, your Parkinson’s care at home provider will be able to easily adjust the services she provides and adapt to your loved one’s changing needs, meaning he’ll have the support he needs throughout the progression of the disease, offering you peace of mind.
If you or an aging loved one needs Parkinson’s Care at Home in Davis, CA, contact A Better Living Home Care today (916) 514-7006
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