Parkinson’s Disease

You can live more independently with Parkinson’s disease.  We can help. We know which resources will meet your needs.  You will learn to more efficiently and safely move about your daily life.  

Working with you in the privacy and safety of your home, we determine the best action plan for your condition, environment, and budget

Condition Overview

Parkinson’s disease is a chronic and progressive neurological condition.  The disease develops gradually and is usually first noticed as tremors in one hand.  Friends and family may notice you appear stiff, or that you are stooping over. These symptoms are often mistaken as normal aging.

Symptoms often begin with one side of your body, and as the condition worsens that side of your body will usually remain worse than the other side.    The general population associates the disease with tremors, particularly in the hands, but the disease also causes slowing or freezing of movement (bradykinesia).  Other common symptoms of Parkinson’s disease include:

  • Slowed or loss of reflexes

  • Difficulty speaking

  • Lack of balance

  • Slowed muscle movement

In the later stages of Parkinson’s disease, some people may also develop memory problems or dementia.

Common Experiences and Challenges

Your day begins with walking down the hallway, steadying yourself by moving your hands along the walls.  You make your way to the kitchen for a cup of coffee or juice. As you reach up to grab a cup, you find yourself suddenly unbalanced.  You grab for the countertop. After struggling to pour your cup, you plead with your chin to stop trembling so you can take a sip of your drink.  What was routine now requires energy and perseverance.

After being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, your life will change.  As with other defining life changes, such as college, marriage, children, or retirement; you will begin to see your history as “life before Parkinson’s” and “life after Parkinson’s.”  Parkinson’s disease affects the way you approach every activity.  

 

Facial Expression – Throughout your life, you have communicated vast amounts of information and emotion with your face – a raised eyebrow, a wink, a smile, or even a furrowed brow.  These expressions were automatic. Parkinson’s disease diminishes or even prevents these interactions.

 

Speech – Your voice box works.  Your tongue moves. Your mouth can still form the words.  However, with each day the effort to speak can increase. You want to communicate, but sometimes it feels too difficult. 

 

Walking – Your ability to stroll down the street, get a glass of water from the kitchen, bring in the groceries, or properly greet visitors at the door is reduced due to an impaired sense of balance.  Parkinson’s disease increases the risk for falls. You have to relearn how to walk, turn around, reach for shelves, and carry items.

 

Dressing – As your muscles stiffen and you lose fine motor coordination, dressing can become more difficult.  Every morning requires more energy and often more help. When you finally finish what used to take ninety seconds, you begin to realize there has to be a better way.

 

Every activity demands more and more concentration and determination.  The symptoms of Parkinson’s disease are often compounded by medication side-effects such as depression, sleep difficulties, urinary problems, and sexual dysfunction.

Being Independent

Imagine if your morning routine took the same 30 minutes it used to.  Just think of how great it would be to join your friends for dinner at that new restaurant.  What would it be like to simply wake-up, get dressed, and go out?

 

How rewarding will it be to overcome your daily obstacles?  Your body won’t cooperate, so you will retrain it. Your memory is slipping, so you will exercise it.  Your home is filled with barriers, so you will remove them.  

Like other life changing events, having Parkinson’s disease requires many changes, but just as in the past, you will make a successful transition.  While others will wonder if they could have been as strong, you will be busy planning for your future.

How We can Help

You can live more independently with Parkinson’s disease.  We can help. We know which resources will meet your needs.  You will learn to more efficiently and safely move about your daily life.  

Working with you in the privacy and safety of your home, we determine the best action plan for your condition, environment, and budget.

Our independent living specialists are:

  • Qualified – Our independent living specialists are licensed and registered occupational therapists with advanced training to help you continue to live in the comfort of your home.  Occupational therapists are healthcare professionals specifically trained to help people be as independent as possible.  They are trained in anatomy, neurology, psychology, and development. This training enables occupational therapists to create an individualized plan of action to improve your independence and your life.  Occupational therapists are the ONLY professionals recognized by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to make recommendations for home modifications or remodeling for persons with disabilities. We work with only the best occupational therapists in the industry.

  • Knowledgeable – Our independent living specialists continually trains on new and emerging products and services to help individuals with Parkinson’s disease.  In fact, our staff of specialists includes licensed instructors for continuing education (CEU) classes taken by nurses, social workers, physical therapists, and occupational therapists across the country.  We teach the other medical providers you currently see.

Trustworthy – Our independent living specialists are experienced professionals with exceptional knowledge and dedication.  We will be honest with you about what you can expect as your condition matures. Because we work for you, we will always champion you.

Additional Parkinson’s Disease Resources