How to Provide Care to an Elderly Parent with Parkinson’s

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Parkinson’s disease involves a slow deterioration of the neurons in the middle of the brain. The medical condition impairs communication skills, reduces the release of neurotransmitters, and affects physical movement, speech, and mood. If you want to provide high-quality care to an aging loved one with Parkinson’s, consider taking the following steps.

Educate Yourself

Understand how the Parkinson’s disease process begins and progresses along with the symptoms your loved one may develop. Explore treatment and therapy options, and keep up with current research and findings. Once you have gained the knowledge, use the information to provide the best care possible.

If your senior loved one has been diagnosed with a serious condition and needs help with tasks like meal prep, transportation, bathing, and grooming, reach out to Ambience In-Home Care, a leading provider of home care Ambience, TX, families can trust. We also offer comprehensive care for seniors with dementia, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s.

Attend Medical Appointments

Family caregivers should accompany their senior loved ones to all medical appointments and checkups. Caregivers often have information pertaining to the progression of the disease, current symptoms, and effectiveness of treatments. Accompanying your loved one to medical appointments can help you understand his or her treatment plan better.

Encourage Exercise

Seniors with Parkinson’s should engage in some type of regular exercise. Routine physical activity boosts mood, alleviates stress, and enhances cardiovascular performance and physical strength. Workouts also increase endurance, flexibility, and posture. A study by a group of British researchers found that routine activity stimulates the production of natural dopamine. A physical therapist can customize an exercise program based on your loved one’s current symptoms and capabilities. In general, therapists recommend activities that provide aerobic workouts and increase balance and physical strength. Stretching techniques are also advised.

Older adults who need help exercising should consider professional in-home care. Ambience elderly care experts are available to provide high-quality care to seniors on an as-needed basis. From assistance with mobility and exercise to providing transportation to the doctor’s office and social events, there are a variety of ways professional caregivers can help your aging loved one continue to live independently.

Ensure Effective Communication

In the later stages of Parkinson’s disease, speech impediment and loss of motor control can make it difficult for seniors to express their needs. To ensure effective communication, speak to your loved one face to face. Try repeating the portion of the sentence you understood, or make it into a question that can be answered simply. Encourage your loved one to speak slower. If your loved one is unable to speak clearly, ask yes or no questions he or she can respond to with eye blinks or a nod of the head.

Create a Network

Caregivers must ensure there is always someone able to take their place in the event they cannot provide care for a few hours or even a day or two. You might have an emergency, need to run personal errands, or become ill. To give you a break from your caregiving duties, family members or friends may be willing to offer help by providing transportation, doing the grocery shopping, or undertaking other tasks.

Caring for older adults with serious health issues can be a challenging task. Families who find it difficult to care for their aging loved ones without assistance can benefit greatly from professional respite care. Ambience, TX, family caregivers who need a break from their caregiving duties can turn to Ambience In-Home Care. Using our proprietary Balanced Care Method, our respite caregivers can encourage your loved one to eat well, exercise regularly, get plenty of mental and social stimulation, and focus on other lifestyle factors that promote longevity. To learn about our high-quality in-home care plans, give us a call at (469) 573-4213 today.

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