A Parkinson’s care plan should detail the unique challenges pertaining to your aging loved one’s mental, physical, and emotional health. It should be updated as your loved one’s health changes, outlining the progression and detailing successful techniques. Below are some strategies that need to be included in an adequate care plan for seniors with Parkinson’s disease.
Prevent Injuries
Environmental conditions are the top causes of slips, falls, and severe accidents among seniors with Parkinson’s. The disease may lead to issues such as lack of awareness, poor judgment, tremors, bad posture, and reduced verbal and nonverbal communication. A solid care plan stresses the importance of teaching a variety of motion exercises to increase flexibility and strengthen balance. Continuously remind your parent to maintain an upright position when walking, which is vital to injury prevention. You should also be able to identify and remove environmental hazards.
Many seniors in the early stages of Parkinson’s are able to live on their own, but they may need a bit of help with the everyday tasks of life, such as exercising and preparing nutritious meals. Aging adults who require assistance with the tasks of daily living can benefit from reliable elder care. Families trust Home Care Assistance to provide the high-quality care their elderly loved ones need and deserve. Our caregivers are trained to help seniors prevent serious illnesses and encourage them to make healthier decisions as they age.
Create Socialization Strategies
It’s common for seniors with Parkinson’s to limit their relationships and withdraw from social activities. Isolation can cause the condition to progress at a rapid rate and indirectly cause other conditions such as dementia and insomnia. Your parent should try to socialize even when he or she doesn’t feel up to it. When creating a care plan, include your loved one’s favorite hobbies and find ways to simplify each activity based on his or her current limitations and potential health issues. Find local clubs your loved one can join or look for volunteering activities in the area. You can also add respite care to the plan. A respite caregiver can assist with basic tasks and provide companionship to your loved one.
For families living in Rocklin, respite care can be a wonderful solution when their aging loved ones need companionship and socialization a few hours a week or just need minor assistance with daily household tasks. At Home Care Assistance, we thrive on helping seniors maintain their independence while living in the comfort of home.
Set Goals
To prevent disappointment, be realistic when creating goals. Instead, set small goals and celebrate the wins when they happen. For instance, if your loved one is facing difficulty with eating, add mouth and throat exercises to the care plan. Instead of setting a timetable for the swallowing and chewing issues to decrease, the goals should center on the completion of a set number of mouth exercises each day. As your loved one uses these techniques, his or her eating abilities may increase. If your loved one doesn’t meet a goal, don’t get discouraged. Stay committed to the care plan and make adjustments as necessary.
Establish a Support Network
This part of the care plan applies to both seniors and their caregivers. You and your loved one both need mentors, friends, and other supporters you can speak with honestly and openly. When setting aside time during the week for your loved one’s activities, schedule group counseling sessions he or she can attend. The agenda must include time off for you to visit Parkinson’s caregiver groups. While at these sessions, you’ll have the ability to share your feelings and receive advice on good management strategies, which can decrease the risk of depression. Ask your loved one’s primary care physician about local Parkinson’s support groups you both can benefit from.
Caring for a loved one with Parkinson’s can be extremely challenging, and a compassionate professional caregiver can be a wonderful source of support. If your elderly loved one is living with a serious medical condition and needs help managing the tasks of daily living, reach out to Home Care Assistance, a Rocklin home care agency you can trust. Our caregivers are available 24/7, there are no hidden fees in our contracts, and we offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee on all of our in-home care services. If you need professional home care for your loved one, our Care Managers are just a phone call away. Reach out to Home Care Assistance today at (916) 226-3737.