Heart Disease

Caregiver Assistance Tips

Parkinson’s disease can make it more difficult to complete tasks such as getting dressed, driving and bathroom needs. Caregivers should be especially attentive to these needs.
It is important to stay vigilant and recognize changes that occur slowly in a person with Parkinson’s over time. Knowing when to offer help and how much help to offer is very important.
Schedule medication and hydration reminders (while considering any liquid restrictions provided by the patient’s doctor)

Information

Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative brain disorder. Most symptoms take years to develop but can be managed. There are many things that you can do to improve and maintain your quality of life. The three biggest are maintaining a healthy diet, making your life easier and safer at home, and focusing on properly completing daily activities. Assistance In Home Care specializes in facilitating all of these things. Our clients and their well being are our priority.

Parkinson.org outlines important safety considerations:

Throughout The House

Make sure that:

Floors are stable, non-skid surfaces without excessive patterns.
All furniture is secure, sturdy and does not swivel.
Chairs are stable, have arm rests and adequate seat height to make standing up easier.
There is good lighting throughout the home, with no dark or shadowy areas, and blinds/shades are adjusted to minimize glare.
Walking paths are wide, allowing easy access and use of a walker or wheelchair if needed.
Electrical/phone/computer cords do not pose a tripping/falls risk when walking and moving about.
Stairs are in good shape, have railings and can be blocked for safety if needed.
Dining area can be easily accessed.
Smoke alarms are installed in all rooms (especially bedroom and kitchen), with fully charged batteries.
Remove through rugs/scatter rugs.
Remove clutter to decrease risk of tripping and falls.

If you want to learn more, please follow this link to Parkinson.org.