Caring For Older Adults With Parkinson’s Disease

Around 153,000 people in the UK live with Parkinson’s disease. Symptoms typically start to develop for individuals when they’re over 50, although it’s not uncommon to start experiencing symptoms under the age of 40.

The condition is progressive, which means it will get worse over time. Because of this, caring for an older loved one with Parkinson’s can present additional challenges.

In this post, we’ll explore Parkinson’s a bit more and provide useful tips for caring for someone with the condition.

Understanding Parkinson’s

Parkinson’s is a progressive neurological condition. It causes damage to parts of the brain over many years, and Parkinson’s symptoms get worse over time. The damage is caused by a loss of nerve cells in the brain, which reduces the chemical dopamine. The drop in dopamine levels is what causes many of the Parkinson’s symptoms.

Parkinson’s symptoms

Physical symptoms such as tremors are most associated with Parkinson’s disease. However, an individual may experience a variety of motor, non-motor, and psychological symptoms.

Motor symptoms

Parkinson’s can affect the movement and balance of your loved one; here are some of the most common motor symptoms of the condition:

involuntary shaking of parts of the body (tremor)
slow movement
stiff and inflexible muscles
balance problems (which can increase the chances of a fall)

Non-motor symptoms

Here are some of the other physical symptoms of Parkinson’s that do not directly affect balance and movement:

Pain
fatigue
low blood pressure
restless legs
bladder and bowel problems
skin and sweating
eating, swallowing and saliva control
eye problems
foot care
mouth and dental issues

Cognitive and psychological symptoms

Mental health problems such as low mood, depression and anxiety
trouble sleeping (insomnia)
memory problems
speech and communication problems

Caring for a loved one with Parkinson’s

Parkinson’s disease is a life-changing condition that currently has no cure. Your loved one will likely need long-term treatment, such as medications and therapies, to help manage their symptoms. They may also need additional support carrying out simple, everyday tasks as their condition progresses.

Here are some of the key areas to focus on when caring for a friend or loved one with Parkinson’s:

Diet and nutrition

Helping your loved one manage their diet and physical health alongside their Parkinson’s diagnosis is crucial. A nutritious, balanced diet will help them maintain the strength to manage their condition. It’s also important that they’re eating enough (of the right foods) if they’re taking medication for Parkinson’s symptoms.

In addition, Parkinson’s can cause weight loss, swallowing issues, and bladder and bowel problems. Eating regular nutritious meals, getting enough fibre, reducing sugar, salt, saturated fats, and cholesterol, and drinking enough water can help manage these symptoms

Physical activity

While Parkinson’s can take its toll on your loved one’s motor skills, encouraging them to stay fit and active (in line with their abilities) will help manage these symptoms.

The Parkinson’s Foundation explains that an exercise routine should include the following elements:

Aerobic activities include walking, running, cycling, swimming, and aerobics classes.
Strength training —using weight machines, resistance bands, handheld weights, body weight, etc.
Balance, agility & multitasking — such as yoga, tai chi, dance or boxing classes
Flexibility — a programme of specific stretches that can help maintain flexibility.

Any exercise activity should be safe and appropriate for an individual’s physical abilities. A doctor or physiotherapist can advise which specific exercise activities are most suitable for your loved one.

Everyday tasks

As your loved one’s condition progresses, simple everyday activities may become more challenging. They may need adaptations and equipment around the home to help them manage everyday tasks. There may also come a point where regular care and assistance are necessary.

Here at Comfort Care At Home, we offer empathetic and professional at-home Parkinson’s care. Whether assisting with personal care, medication support, meal and hydration support, or emotional support, our experienced care professionals can tailor their support to your loved one’s needs.