If you are a family caregiver for one of the approximately one million people throughout the United States who is currently living with Parkinson’s disease it is important that you prepare yourself with as much information about the disease as possible. One vital element of this is understanding each of the stages of the disease and what to expect so that you can devise the course of care that is most effective for your loved one according to those needs.
The progressive nature of Parkinson’s disease means that the symptoms will increase and worsen over time. Though each person who develops this condition will experience it in their own way, there is a basic pattern of stages. The first is the mildest stage, and the one during which many people are diagnosed.
Some of the things that your aging parent is likely to face during the first stage of Parkinson’s disease include:
- Mild symptoms that do not interfere with your parent’s ability to continue with their daily tasks and their recreational activities or only have minor influence
- Some changes in posture
- Changes in gait, such as slower or more irregular walking
- Different facial expressions or facial expressions that do not always correspond with your parent’s emotions
- Tremors or physical movement symptoms that develop on only one side of the body
At this stage of the disease the condition is still mild. Your parent will be able to continue living independently and may only require some basic assistance and support. At this stage it is extremely important to provide emotional support and encouragement, and to start getting them ready for the progressive stages, including helping them to understand the symptoms that they are likely to face and getting them thinking about making legal and personal decisions that will apply later.
If your elderly loved one has recently been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease or their symptoms have progressed to the point that they are too challenging for you to handle on your own, now may be the ideal time for you to consider starting elderly care for them. The highly personalized services of an elderly home care services provider can be instrumental in helping your parent to handle their condition effectively while also pursuing the active, independent, and fulfilling quality of life that they desire and deserve as they age in place. This is not only about helping them to handle the symptoms and challenges that they are currently suffering. The customized schedule and personalized services of a care provider can also help your parent to prepare for the next stage in their progressive journey. As each stage presents new challenges and symptoms, preparing in the previous stage can make the transition smoother and less difficult for your senior, and for you as their caregiver. Starting care as early in the progression of the disease as possible is an effective way of making sure that your parent can handle this condition in the best way possible. Even during the earliest stages of the disease, the personalized services of a care provider can help your loved one to get their body as healthy as possible and develop routines that they can carry through as they disease progresses.
Sources:
http://www.parkinson.org/understanding-parkinsons
https://www.parkinson.org/Understanding-Parkinsons/Statistics
https://www.floridahospital.com/parkinsons-disease-pd/statistics-parkinsons-disease-pd
For elderly care in Southern NJ, and the surrounding areas, call and talk to us at Home to Stay Healthcare Solutions (856) 321-1500.
