Approximately one million people throughout the United States are currently living with Parkinson’s disease and another 60,000 will be diagnosed with this condition each year. If you are a family caregiver for an elderly adult who has recently been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, or their doctor has mentioned that Parkinson’s disease is a possibility, it is important that you learn as much as you can about this condition so that you can feel prepared to give them the care that they need throughout their progression with the disease. This will help them to manage their condition in the way that is right for them and focus on living a lifestyle that is as fulfilling, independent, and meaningful as possible throughout this progression.
This awareness starts with understanding what Parkinson’s disease actually is so that you can better understand how it impacts your parent.
Parkinson’s disease, also referred to as PD, is a neurological disorder. Like Alzheimer’s disease, PD is classified as a progressive disorder. This means that the condition will worsen over time and your parent will experience more symptoms as the journey continues forward.
The brain produces chemicals known as neurotransmitters that control various functions throughout the body. One such neurotransmitter is dopamine. In people with Parkinson’s disease the brain gradually reduces the amount of dopamine that it produces. Not having enough of this neurotransmitter causes your parent to lose their ability to regulate their movements, control their body, and even manage their emotions. Eventually they will be incapable of caring for themselves. There is no cure for Parkinson’s disease and treatments are only effective at managing symptoms for some sufferers, but will not stop the progression, eliminate the symptoms, or prevent the inevitable conclusion of the disease.
Classified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as the 14th leading cause of death throughout the United States, complications and effects from Parkinson’s disease are life-changing and require dedicated care to handle effectively. It is important to start as early as possible in the disease to give your parent the best opportunity to get on a course of care, treatment, and management that is right for them.
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. This will give them greater confidence as they face these future challenges, and reassure you as their family caregiver that they are getting everything that they need to remain safe, healthy, comfortable, and happy as they progress through this disease.
If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring elderly care in Edison, NJ, call the caring staff at Helping Hands Home Care today at 908-418-4299. Providing Home Care Services in all of Northern and Central NJ, including Clark, Westfield, Cranford, Scotch Plains, Rahway, Linden, Summit, Edison, Elizabeth, Mountainside and the surrounding areas.
Sources:
http://www.parkinson.org/understanding-parkinsons
http://www.pdf.org/en/parkinson_statistics
https://www.floridahospital.com/parkinsons-disease-pd/statistics-parkinsons-disease-pd
After graduating from Seton Hall University with a BS in finance Helping Hands Homecare’s Owner / President, Robert D’Arienzo, went to work on Wall St. for six years. However, after Robert’s grandmother became ill with stomach cancer Robert and his family needed to find assistance in the home for her. After many trials and tribulations Robert could see that there was a great need for quality home care services here in NJ and loved the idea of being able to assist other families who were going through what his family went through with his beloved grandmother.
Thus, Robert had found his passion. After almost a year of preparation Robert opened Helping Hands Homecare in 2003. Robert wanted Helping Hands Homecare to focus on providing the highest quality of caregivers, exceptional customer service, and providing a service that familys could depend on in their time of need. Since then Helping Hands has assisted hundreds of individuals with the simplest of needs to more complex cases while preserving those standards set out many years ago.
Robert is a Google Verified Author
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