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Caring for a loved one with
Parkinson’s Disease can be quite the challenge due to its slow progression,
often making it a prolonged, demanding commitment. However, amid its tough
obstacles, there are also many rewarding moments you’ll experience as a caregiver.
It’s important to try to focus on the positives and to find love in each moment
you spend with your loved one, even when their symptoms make it difficult.
Parkinson’s
Disease Symptoms
The symptoms of Parkinson’s can
greatly vary between individuals—whether that be the severity, rate of
progression or type of symptom itself. Some common signs of Parkinson’s Disease
include:1
It’s important to note that some of
these symptoms may also occur with normal aging; however, you or your loved one
should speak with a doctor if these symptoms worsen or begin to interfere with
daily living.
Tips
for Managing Parkinson’s at Home
If your family member with Parkinson’s
wants to remain at home, they may need to modify their environment or
lifestyle. Here are a few tips to keep in mind to ensure your loved one can
safely remain at home, especially as the disease progresses.
Parkinson’s affects people’s
movements, balance and stability, so it’s important for them to live in a safe
environment that is well-lit, free of clutter and well-organized. Avoid using
excessive patterns throughout the home and install ambulation aids, such as
grab bars, where necessary. Consider raising the toilet seat and the bed
height, as well, to minimize fall risks at home.
Familiarize yourself with the fastest
route to the nearest hospital in case an emergency arises. If your loved one is
left alone often, consider buying emergency assistance technology, such as
medical alert pendants.
Nutrition makes a huge difference in
all seniors’ lives, but especially those with Parkinson’s Disease. Since this
disorder stems from changes in the brain, foods that promote brain
health—neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, fiber-rich and high-antioxidant
foods—can help minimize motor and non-motor symptoms. On the other hand, foods
high in sugar or carbohydrates may worsen your loved one’s symptoms.2 Talk
to your doctor to figure out what changes in diet can help your loved one and
what types of daily habits can contribute to a
healthier lifestyle.
Staying hydrated can help relieve
digestive issues, especially constipation. If increasing your loved one’s water
intake leads to urinary incontinence or urgency, then you may consider adding
food high in water content to their diet, such as tomato, cucumber, celery or
grapefruit.2
It’s important for seniors with
Parkinson’s to take their medication as prescribed, as this will help treat
motor and non-motor symptoms. Taking proper medication and incorporating a
healthy diet may cause the medicine to be more effective. Some foods, especially
those high in protein, can affect how quickly the medication is absorbed, used
or metabolized by your body.2 Talk to your doctor to ensure
your loved one’s diet, prescription, and schedules align.
Incorporating regular aerobics,
strength training, agility workouts and stretching can help improve motor and
non-motor Parkinson’s symptoms.3 Seniors with Parkinson’s
Disease are encouraged to exercise shortly after taking medication and with a
partner who can monitor them. Talk to your loved one’s doctor or trainer to
establish a workout routine that fits their unique needs.
Parkinson’s Disease is hard on
everyone, from the individual to their friends and family. As a caregiver, you
can only provide compassionate care to your loved one if you care for yourself
as well. Be sure to identify your stress triggers and determine your limits.
When it’s time for you to take a break, take one. Use that time to decompress
so that when you return, you’re able to be kind and patient with your loved
one. You’re allowed to feel your emotions and to give yourself grace.
Additional
Care and Support for People Living with Parkinson’s
Caring for a loved one with
Parkinson’s Disease can be difficult to navigate on your own. At HomeWell, our
compassionate caregivers offer a specialized care approach that helps your
loved one with Parkinson’s navigate the disease and enhance their quality of
life while aging in place. We also help provide you with peace of mind by
taking some responsibilities off your plate, enabling you to truly focus on
spending time with them for as long as you can.
Sources:
The Role of a Geriatric Care ManagerThe share of the United States population over the age of 65 has risen to 16%, and it is expected to climb further to 23% by 2060. People are living longer, and that means that people also have more specialized health care needs.Aging life care calls for a different kind of attention, as various conditions and syndromes begin to present themselves. Depending on which conditions those are, the situation can get complicated pretty quickly. In some cases, it might be worthwhile to consider hiring a geriatric care manager.As we and our loved ones age, we usually end up needing support from the people around us to make sure our needs are met. Family members in particular tend to shoulder this responsibility. But there are many reasons that might make it difficult to have a good support network in place. The most common reason is that family caregivers simply live too far away to provide reliable senior care management.In this context, geriatric care managers can be thought of as "professional relatives." If a family member is not able to provide long term care, geriatric care managers can help provide any and all services related to elder care. They are usually licenced nurses or social workers who are trained in aging life care, and they organize care plans and advocate for their patients needs.If you hire a geriatric care manager, you will be able to count on them to navigate the complexities of the health care system. It can also be helpful to have someone who can make decisions from a neutral point of view, as family caregivers sometimes have to make difficult decisions that are deeply personal.The primary responsibilities of a geriatric care manager are:Coordinating elder care between multiple service providersDeveloping both short and long term care plansHelping manage emotional concerns, stress, and anxietiesHelping manage transitional careHiring additional caregivers as necessaryMake home visits and evaluate living conditionsOngoing assessment of aging life care needsAll of this helps take the pressure off family members and ensures that geriatric care management is always under control.When to Seek Support With an Aging Life Care ExpertThere are many cases in which families are perfectly capable of managing aging life care for someone they love. But it can be challenging to know when you might be taking on more than you can reasonably expect to handle. As discussed above, one of the most obvious challenges is that family members do not live near the person who needs their care. But other complications are not as straightforward.You should consider hiring a geriatric care manager when:You need help with a complex issue. Lots of medical conditions can lead to the kinds of behaviors that should really be handled by aging life care professionals. Issues related to dementia, verbal abuse, or physical violence are among these.Your loved one will not talk to you about their health. Whether it is out of concern for privacy, a soured relationship, or an inability to describe what they are experiencing, older adults sometimes do not let relatives help them. A geriatric care manager gives them someone they feel comfortable talking to about their health. You are having trouble communicating with service providers. Geriatric care managers have a better understanding of where other aging life care professionals are coming from, so if you have run into a wall in negotiations or are not able to get the information you are looking for, your care manager is in a position to communicate more effectively.You do not know what to do. Caring for a loved one can be complicated for reasons beyond their health. We always want the best for them, but sometimes there are multiple pathways and it is not clear which one will be best. Geriatric care managers can provide their objective point of view to help your loved one receive the senior care that is right for themFinding Geriatric Care ManagersA geriatric care manager does not have to hold a state level license. But because many of them come from fields in health care, they elect to maintain their credentials. Care managers who come from social work often have to have active licensure in order to practice in their state.So on the one hand, a lack of certification or licensure is not necessarily a deal breaker. On the other hand, it is important that they can demonstrate their experience as aging life care professionals. If you are hiring a geriatric care manager, be sure to ask about the following:Do they have direct experience with managing issues specific to your loved one? This is especially important to cover in cases of severe injury or cognitive decline.Do they have experience with crisis care management? If your loved one is prone to seizures or is at high risk for falls or heart attacks, aging life care professionals need to know how to handle this type of emergency situation. Also ask them if they are available to respond around the clock, or if they have set hours.How will they communicate information to you? It might seem like a tedious question, but being on the same page about communication methods and styles can save everyone a lot of frustration and confusion.Can they provide references? It can be hard to really understand who you are working with based on their resume alone. Talking to people who know them well is a good way to corroborate your first impressions.How are their costs and fees structured? Senior care can be expensive it is typically not covered under Medicare or most other insurance plans so it is important to understand how much things will cost up front. Geriatric care managers charge by the hour, typically within a range of $75200 per hour.When families turn to aging life care professionals for care management services, they need to know as much as possible about the roles and responsibilities of the people they are bringing into the fold. Geriatric care managers help families navigate the complexities of elder care and relieve them of the stress and anxiety that so often comes along with it. They are experienced in working with a variety of national and local resources, care providers, and care services to ensure the highest quality of life possible.Give me a call for a FREE 20 minute consultation at 714-403-7040. source: Keystone Health, 2024. https://keystone.health/geriatric-care-manager-role-responsibilities#table-of-contents
Gifts for Grandma, Grandpa, or Aging ParentsIts no secret that shopping for gifts for grandma, grandpa, or an older parent, can be difficult. A life well lived also means theyve probably acquired everything they need for their day-to-day tasks. Do they really need another stock pot, blanket, or screwdriver? Probably not. And those kinds of gifts are BORING with a capital B. Why not find something thats new AND solves a problem?How do you buy a gift for a senior who already has everything?The trick is to find a present that adds value and independence to their life. As we age, things that we took for granted in our youth become much harder as the years pass on.One such example that many seniors struggle with is the simple task of clipping fingernails. The standard fingernail clipper hasnt changed for over 70 years. Its small and requires a surprising amount of vision and dexterity.Now imagine youre a senior with advancing arthritis or decreasing vision and what used to be a simple task is now a lot more difficult. Maybe you have MS or Parkinsons and fine motor dexterity is an everyday challenge. Or perhaps youre fully capable of clipping your own nails, but want additional convenience. Or maybe youre a caregiver and clipping fingernails is low on your priority list. Any way you look at it, theres no right or wrong reason to want a bit of independence.In fact, there are over 50 million people in the US alone who have limited dexterity, strength, or vision. And tens of millions more who dislike the messy and annoying process of clipping fingernails. If your parent or grandparent needs help, theyre certainly not alone.Get them something that makes their life easier.Introducing the ClipDifferent Pro: the easiest-to-use nail clipper on the planet. Its easily one of the best gifts for grandma, grandpa, or an aging parent.The ClipDifferent Pro is a revolutionary, first-of-its-kind, automatic fingernail clipper that safely trims fingernails with the simple touch of a button. Its effortless, safe, leaves no mess, and is built to last.It includes FREE SHIPPING and a FULL GUARANTEE!It uses a bit of science, a bit of magic, and a few top-secret components that elevate the act of fingernail clipping from boring to holy cow!.Put simply, the ClipDifferent Pro utilizes a high-capacity, rechargeable NiMH battery to power a finely-tuned, patent-pending trimming mechanism manufactured with surgical grade stainless steel, to create the most seamless, clean, and nearly effortless fingernail clipping experience youve ever had. Dont Just Take Our Word For It Heres What Others Are Saying The ClipDifferent Pro is so simple and easy to use! Rollie Rodgers (Korean War Veteran and Living with Parkinsons) It gives me one more way to be independent. Rick Zeidler (Vision Loss) Ive won the war but its these day-to-day battles that we have to deal with. Rick Ebner (Living with MS) I think anyone will find the Pro fabulousespecially those who have challenges with fine motor skills. Geno Mucciacciaro (Disabled Veteran with Neurological and Central Nervous System Issues) Once you see the Pro work, its hard to go back to the old way of clipping your nails. Butch Donohue (Amputee/Limb Loss) Every home needs to have one of these! Tamara S. (Home Health Care Advisor) I need to buy one of these for my husband! Velma Hagar Ristaino (Author, Inspirational Speaker)
Elevating Compassion CareAging with grace and vigor is challenging. Being a caregiver for an aging loved one maybe even more challenging. Here are some innovations to help those you love are able to care for themselves and lengthen their independence.The Cassia Learning Lab director, Kate Ingalls-Maloney, suggests listing your concerns and then deciding, with some help, which technologies fit those situations. For example, is there a concern about leaving the oven or a burner on? Perhaps theres a worry about falling in the shower. On occasion, are daily medications forgotten? Be very honest with yourself and your family about what causes hesitation or concern. Then make your list.The top two reasons people move from their homes are medication errors and falls. Insurance companies may be more likely to cover home modifications and medication management devices that are designed to prevent these two situations. Waivers and private pay are other ways to obtain home adaptations or devices, and some vendors offer a try before you buy policy.Innovations to support seniors independence and peace of mind for their caregivers.Medication management systems There are many different kinds of medication reminders and dispensing systems: From a simple flip-top dispenser to a lockable electronic dispenser that can give alerts to both the person taking the meds and to his/her remote caregiver.Fall prevention innovations Easy to install lighting, with or without motion detection, can be affordable and also very effective. The adhesive-backed LED motion lights can easily mark a trail to the bathroom at night and provide a safe path. Other strategically placed night lights or touch lamps can also help to avoid falls.Grab bars systems In the bathroom, grab bars can be installed according to the users mobility needs. Newer models incorporate towel bars and toilet paper dispensers. Note: Its important to consult your physical therapist when installing grab bars. Non-skid flooring is another great way to help prevent bathroom falls.Wearable pendants or watches There is a variety of these on the market. They can detect falls automatically or be triggered to summon help if a fall occurs. In addition, there is now a wearable (but not noticeable) tracking device that inserts into a shoe or boot so that someone who tends to wander can be located using GPS technology.Safety in the kitchen There is no need to fear to leave the oven on if you have an automatic appliance shut-off sensor system. They can be installed in both electric and gas ranges.My mother is 93 and has very arthritic hands. Ive been clipping her nails for her. (I bought her a ClipDifferent Pro) and it will allow her to be independent when it comes to doing her nails. NancyFingernail care For self-care, the ClipDifferent Pro automatic fingernail clipper and Lil Nipper automatic fingernail clipper provides a way to safely and independently clip fingernails with no risk of harm or mess. Shop for Lil Nipper or ClipDifferent Pro here.Home voice activation systems Whole-home voice activation systems like Amazons Alexa or Google home, when installed correctly, can be very helpful for controlling thermostats, lighting, doorbells, TV, or calls for help.
Catch your breath on your journey as a family caregiver. Caring for a loved one is one of the most fulfilling acts of love, but even the finest family caregivers deserve moments of relief. In most cases, caregiving is a marathon, not a sprint. If you continually feel exhausted carrying out your responsibilities as a caregiver, it can lead to emotional and physical burnout. Fortunately, this is not a journey you must navigate alone. HomeWell is here to lend a helping hand, providing you with the essential break you need to recharge and spend more quality time with your loved one and other family members and friends.What is respite care?Respite care provides short-term relief for primary caregivers and families. If your loved one resides at home or in a living or care facility, a professional caregiver can cater to their needs, whether for an afternoon, several days or weeks. Respite care is more than just a pause in your caregiving routine; its a lifeline for you and your family. It allows you to recuperate, reducing your stress and the risk of burnout, all while ensuring your loved one receives the personalized attention they need wherever they call home.Why HomeWell for respite care?Trained Caregivers Our caregivers are equipped with the knowledge and resources to provide respite care. They are compassionate, dedicated, and committed to the well-being of your loved ones.Customized Care Plans We believe in personalized care, so we work with you to create a care plan that suits your unique needs and schedule. Whether its a few hours of respite or an extended break, were here to assist.Quality and Reliability HomeWell is known for our reliability, consistency, and commitment to ensuring safety and comfort. You can count on us to become an extension of your family and keep you apprised of updates and changes in symptoms.Peace of Mind With HomeWells respite care, you can take the time to recover, knowing that your family members are in capable hands. We offer you the peace of mind you deserve.