Learn How Home Care in Houston TX Can Help Your Loved One With Parkinson’s Disease!

Parkinson’s disease (PD) involves the malfunction and death of vital nerve cells in the brain, called neurons. Parkinson’s primarily affects neurons in the an area of the brain called the substantia nigra.

The four main symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease are tremor, or trembling in hands, arms, legs, jaw, and face; rigidity, or stiffness of the limbs and trunk; bradykinesia, or slowness of movement; and postural instability, or weakened balance and coordination.

As these symptoms progress, patients may have problems walking, talking, or completing other simple tasks.

PD usually impairs people over the age of 50.  Early indicators of PD are subdued and occur little by little.  In some people the disease takes its toll  faster than in others.

As the disease moves forward, the shaking, or tremor, which affects the majority of Parkinson’s Disease patients may begin to Interfere with daily activities.  Other symptoms may include depression and other emotional changes; difficulty in swallowing, chewing, and speaking; urinary problems or constipation; skin problems; and sleep disruptions.

There are at present no blood or laboratory tests that have been verified to assist in diagnosing sporadic Parkinson’s Disease.  As a result the diagnosis is based on medical history and a neurological examination.

The disease can be difficult to diagnose exactly.  Physicians may at times obtain brain scans or laboratory tests in order to rule out other diseases.

Is there any treatment?
Currently, there is no cure for PD, but a variety of medications provide extraordinary comfort from the signs or symptoms.

Home Care and Treatment
At the beginning, Parkinson’s disease may not interfere with your life. But for a lot of people, the disease turns out to be more and more disabling. Private Duty Home Care can assist patients as they adjust, and as the disease moves progresses. Home care helps them to stay independent for as long as possible. Quality of life may be dependent upon their ability to continue working, take care of a home, care for their family, and remain independent. They may need to have customizable devices such as canes or walkers as the disease goes on.

People with Parkinson’s Disease can find help from home care with the following:

• -Changing their activities and their family home, such as simplifying their routine and shifting the placement of furniture so that they can grasp something as they navigate around the home.
• -Consuming healthy foods, including plenty of fruits, vegetables, grains, cereals, legumes, poultry, fish, lean meats, and low-fat dairy products.
• -Exercising and doing physical therapy, which have benefits in both early and advanced stages of  the illness.
• -Dealing with tremor, which may include putting a little weight on the hand to help reduce tremor and restore control.
• -Improving speech quality by working with a speech therapist (also called a speech-language pathologist).
• -Reducing problems with eating and drooling by changing how and what they eat.
• -Dealing with “freezing” by various means, such as stepping towards a specific target on the ground.
• -Dealing with depression. If they are feeling sad or depressed, ask a friend or family member for help. If these feelings don’t go away, or if they get worse, talk to their doctor. He or she may be able to suggest someone for you to talk to or give them medicine that will help.
• -Dealing with dementia. Dementia is common late in Parkinson’s disease. Symptoms may include confusion and memory loss. If a family member notices that they are confused a lot or have trouble thinking clearly, talk to their doctor. There are medicines that can help dementia in people with Parkinson’s disease.

For more information about how home care can help your loved one suffering from Parkinson’s Disease, contact At Your Side Home Care. Call 832-271-1600 today!

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Donna Wrabel, LMSW

Co-Owner at At Your Side Home Care

For most of us, the word "home" evokes warm feelings of comfort, security and well-being. For older adults, home also means holding tight to cherished memories and maintaining self-esteem and independence. When illness, injury or age make life a little more challenging, remaining at home in a comfortable, familiar environment encourages recovery and enhances the quality of life. Home can be defined as a private residence, an independent or assisted living facility or even a short term stay in the hospital, we recognize the additional benefits provided by a personal, professional assistant.

Our Certified Nurse Aides, 24-Hour Live-in Assistants and Home Health Aides are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. We also provide the security and confidence of 24-hour Telephone Assistance, so fast, reliable help is always available when it's needed. To learn more about our homecare services see our homecare services page.

Different people need different levels of homecare. To meet the requirements of our clients, At Your Side Homecare maintains consistent staffing levels of caring professionals. Homecare service is available for as little as a few hours a week, or as many as 24 hours a day, seven days a week

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