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Help for Seniors With Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson's disease is the nation's second most common neurodegenerative disorder behind Alzheimer's, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Parkinson's Disease Foundation notes that approximately 1 million Americans suffer from the condition, which usually develops after the age of 65. While Parkinson's does not reduce life expectancy, it often diminishes quality of life. Understanding the disease as well as its challenges and treatment will aid in the care of seniors with Parkinson's disease.

  1. Understanding Parkinson's

    • The onset of Parkinson's disease, a chronic and progressive neurological disorder, is most often marked by tremors that eventually grow in frequency and severity. According to the Dana Foundation, the progression of Parkinson's leads to further and more pronounced symptoms, including difficulty initiating movement, slowness of movement and muscular stiffness. These symptoms lead to problems with walking, talking, writing and other everyday activities, and subsequently, seniors with Parkinson's disease often experience anxiety and depression.

    Challenges

    • The symptoms of Parkinson's make it more difficult to perform previously simple tasks like personal grooming, cooking and cleaning a home. Loss of abilities and independence result in frustration, depression and anger for seniors suffering from the disorder. Difficulty sleeping leads to fatigue, which results in further complications. Levodopa and other drug treatments for Parkinson's may produce such side effects as nausea, dizziness, irregular heartbeat, mood swings and further loss of muscle control.

    Treatment and Care

    • "It is vitally important for the families of people with Parkinson's disease to help them remain as independent as possible," according to the American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA). The APDA recommends making the home easy to navigate, well-organized and free of clutter; establishing wide walkways without tripping hazards, such as throw rugs; and incorporating products and aids specially designed for people with Parkinson's disease. Give careful consideration to clothing and shoes for both comfort and ease of dressing. Along with drug treatment, good nutrition, regular exercise and physical therapy have proven effective in helping seniors' cope with symptoms of Parkinson's disease. "The goals of medical treatment and allied health therapies are to minimize symptoms and maximize functional abilities in people living with Parkinson disease," according to "The Comfort of Home for Parkinson Disease: A Guide for Caregivers."

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