Parkinson’s disease is a neurologically degenerative disease that affects around 1 million people in the U.S. It starts out slowly and eventually progresses to affect physical movements and the cognitive abilities of the brain. The onset of Parkinson’s disease can start when a person is in their 20s and it may not be apparent until years later after it has degenerated. There is no cure for Parkinson’s disease and it is second only to Alzheimer’s as the most common neurological disease.
Those who suffer from Parkinson’s disease, especially in the later stages, have difficulties living without assistance. Parkinson’s often leads to symptoms like tremors, poor balance, stiff muscles, shakiness, and a decrease in the ability to speak. These symptoms make it difficult for those affected to move around fluidly, and the disease will eventually lead to cognitive impairments such as memory issues. Seniors living with Parkinson’s disease may need specialized care to help live in their homes safely.
At Assisting Hands Home Care, we provide Parkinson’s care in Batavia, IL to help those who are affected by Parkinson’s live in their own homes. Our caregivers have the training and expertise to handle patients with Parkinson’s and help them live as comfortably as possible. We will create a custom care plan for your loved one with Parkinson’s that covers their most pressing care needs.
Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease
The symptoms of Parkinson’s disease vary considerably between patients and the symptoms will gradually get worse over time. Parkinson’s is caused by a loss of nerve cells in the brain that are responsible for producing dopamine which helps the brain regulate body movement. Low levels of dopamine can disrupt body movement and lead to many of the common symptoms of Parkinson’s such as tremors and shakes.
The following are the most common symptoms of Parkinson’s disease:
- Tremors: Uncontrollable tremors start with slight shaking in the hands and face but will gradually get worse.
- Loss of Smell: Losing sense of smell is an early sign of Parkinson’s.
- Trouble Sleeping: Those with Parkinson’s may make extreme movements in their sleep which can cause them to have trouble sleeping.
- Stiffness: People with Parkinson’s experience stiffness of the muscles very easily which can make it difficult to move. This is most obvious in the way that those with Parkinson’s walk.
- Changes in Voice: In the early stages of Parkinson’s, those affected may speak softer than normal. Those in the advanced stages may have difficulty speaking altogether.
- Masking: This occurs when those affected by Parkinson’s cannot move the muscles on their face, which causes them to have a constant blank expression.
- Posture: Slight changes in posture usually occur in the early stages of Parkinson’s before the uncontrollable body movements and tremors set in.
- Memory: Parkinson’s disease can have an effect on short term memory, but their long-term memory is usually not affected.
Parkinson’s Home Care
At Assisting Hands Home Care, our goal is to provide care for those with Parkinson’s disease that will improve their quality of life in their own homes. Our caregivers are licensed and highly qualified to provide personal care and assistance that will help those with Parkinson’s get through the day. We will ensure that our care plan covers all of your loved ones needs to help provide support for them and your family as the disease progresses.
Our care plans for those with Parkinson’s may include the following:
- Personal Care and Assistance: Those with Parkinson’s may have trouble with personal activities like getting dressed, using the restroom, and bathing. Our caregivers will help your loved ones with these activities.
- Medication Reminders: It is very important for those with Parkinson’s to take their medications correctly and on time. We can provide medication reminders to ensure they are taking their medication.
- Mobility Assistance: Our caregivers will help your loved ones move around their home if their symptoms are too severe for them to move around on their own.
- Companionship: Our caregivers also consider themselves companions of those that we care for. We will establish a personal relationship with your loved ones and engage them in various activities.
- Transportation and Errands: Our caregivers can provide rides to get your loved ones to doctor appointments and family gatherings. We can also handle certain errands like grocery shopping.
- Meal Preparation: It is important for those with Parkinson’s to get enough nutrition to help strengthen their muscles and bones. We will prepare daily meals for your loved ones to ensure they get the proper nutrition.
- Overnight Care: If you do not want your loved ones with Parkinson’s disease to be left alone at night, we can provide overnight care services in which one of our caregivers will stay in the home through the night.
- Live-In/ 24-Hour Care: We can help provide 24 hours supervision for your loved ones with live-in and 24-hour care.
If you have a loved one in the Batavia, IL area who suffers from Parkinson’s disease, contact our professionals at Assisting Hands Home Care to help them live comfortably at home with our care services. Our caregivers will provide the care and support they need to improve their quality of life and help them live with the disease. Give us a call at (630) 332-2203 for more about our Parkinson’s home care services.
