Home Care Blog>In Home Care  |  August 30, 2019

Home Care and Managing the Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease in Calgary, AB

Managing the Symptoms of Parkinson Disease | Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disease that is second in prevalence only to Alzheimer’s disease in the United States. An aging population has led to a rise in the number of seniors suffering with Parkinson’s.

Signs and symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease may include:

• Balance issues
• Mood changes
• Slowed movement
• Tremors
• Speech changes
• Writing changes

Researchers have not yet found a cure for Parkinson’s, but seniors can take steps to help manage the symptoms of this disease. The symptoms, when managed, will have less of an impact on a person’s life.

Home care strategies for proper symptom management that can be included in a person’s everyday routine are:

• Diet management. Proper diet can help manage a person’s symptoms. Healthy, nutritious foods along with adequate water intake will benefit anyone with Parkinson’s. While there is not a special diet for anyone that has Parkinson’s, a healthy diet is always recommended.
• Stress management. Stress has been linked to worsening symptoms, and studies are showing that less stress can help alleviate worsening symptoms. Activities that can reduce stress are:
  • Yoga
  • Meditation
  • Socialization
  • Exercise
• Fall prevention: A person’s balance will often be a key sign that is first noticed with Parkinson’s. Minimizing the risks of falls is the most important step that you can take, and home care services can help. Preventative steps can include:
  • Removing loose carpeting
  • Wearing proper footwear
  • Removing any trip hazards

Fall prevention may also come in the form of adapting a person’s home. Adjustments to a living space may mean installing grab bars in the bathroom, or it may mean extending doorways so that a wheelchair can easily go through the entryway.

Doctors should be consulted once symptoms start to present themselves. There may not be a cure, but a doctor can offer the best advice on managing your symptoms. Through proper preventative measures, it’s possible to keep symptoms under control while also helping ensure that injuries and falls do not happen.

Physicians can also approve an exercise plan that can help a person maintain their mobility while also maintaining balance.

Comfort Keepers^® Calgary Can Help

At Comfort Keepers^®, we create individual care plans for every client. These plans include wellness goals that consider physical, mental and emotional health. Our caregivers can help support physician-prescribed diet and exercise plans, provide medication reminders, provide transportation to appointments and help seniors engage in the activities they love the most. And, our caregivers can help senior stay connected with loved ones through video chats, phone calls and care updates. We believe that every senior should experience the best in life.

Contact the Comfort Keepers Calgary office to learn more about how we can help maintain safety, comfort, and happiness in the home.

Share This Post: