How To Keep Parkinson’s Patients Busy

Constant Closing Of Eyes Caused By Parkinsons

I would like to hear from anyone else who has the same problems with their eyes.

I usually get Botox regularly but because I had a bad fall and my face was badly bruised I have been unable to get them.

I am hoping the last bit of bruising clears up soon.

Hi I am constantly closing my eyes too. My wife will shout at me thinking I have fallen asleep.Sometimes I have, however, 9 times out of 10 I have just closed my eyes. It seems more prevalent in the evening when we are watching TV. Having said that I do catch myself doing it during the day.I am sorry to hear about your fall, how did it happen?I stumble about a lot with my feet sort of stuttering and sticking to the floor, not completely freezing but havent fallen yet.Mal.

Have you mentioned this to your neurologist.?

Im glad its not. Just. Me.!!!

My mum had this problem due to the Parkinsons so last year had minor surgery on her eyelids to try and help her eyes open more. It seems to have helped, however temporary it may be.

Thanks so much for your replies. There actually does not appear to be many of us withthis problem.

Babs x x x

Hi babs,I also have this problem,I think I replied to you before about this.My Parkinsons is now getting worse and so is the eyelid problem,they seem to be closed more often than open!!I have had eye drops etc from the dr but nothing seems to help much,I go to see the pdnurse nextcweek she has mentioned botox my daughter is always on at mebto get

Im so glad my post? Has helped someone.

Learn Everything You Can About The Disease

Parkinsons disease is a movement disorder. If youre a caregiver for someone living with Parkinsons, youre likely familiar with some of the symptoms of the disease. But do you know what causes its symptoms, how the condition progresses, or what treatments can help manage it? Also, Parkinsons doesnt manifest the same way in everyone.

To be the best ally for your loved one, learn as much as you can about Parkinsons disease. Do research on reputable websites like the Parkinsons Foundation, or read books about the condition. Tag along for medical appointments and ask the doctor questions. If youre well informed, youll have a better idea of what to expect and how to be the most help.

Activities Of Daily Living

Sometimes Parkinsons disease can complicate the basic daily activities a person with living with Parkinsons once did easily, like bathing, dressing, eating, sleeping and even walking. It can be hard to adjust to these changes, but there are ways to improve safety while supporting a good quality of life. Review these pages for tips to ease:

• Going Out to Dinner

Also consider talking to an occupational therapist , who can help simplify home safety and independence by suggesting daily living modifications or adaptations. Your doctor can give you a referral. Additionally, you can call the Parkinsons Foundation Helpline at 1-800-4PD-INFO to find an OT in your area.

Parkinsons Foundation Online Courses

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The Complete Mediterranean Cookbook

• More than 500 recipes from Americas Test Kitchen

• No unusual or hard-to-find ingredients needed

• Nutritional information included for every recipe

• Recipes aren’t always beginner-friendly

• May not work for home chefs on a limited budget

Most health conditions come with a few lifestyle changes. For Parkinsons, changing your diet is highly recommended. Dr. Nwabuobi advises patients to incorporate lots of vegetables, high fiber, nuts, legumes, and whole grains into their diet. Due to these elements, a Mediterranean diet is a good model for how to start. The Complete Mediterranean Cookbook comes with over 500 recipes that bring the best of Morocco, Egypt, Turkey, Lebanon, Greece, and more to your kitchen. Each recipe puts a new twist on the traditional Mediterranean diet and makes meals easy to cook, which is perfect for weeknight dining when energy is already low.

Cleaning Tips For Those With Parkinson’s

• Use long handles on sponge mops, cleaning brushes, dust pans, brooms, or window washers.
• Sit to fold laundry, wash dishes, iron clothes, use the sweeper, mop the floor, or to plug in appliances at low outlets. Adapt counters so that you can reach them from your wheelchair or from a sitting position.

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A Lower Protein Diet To Help Meds Work Better

Your diet can impact how well your medication helps to manage common Parkinson’s symptoms, including tremors and constipation.

Diets heavy in protein, for instance, can limit your body’s absorption of levodopa in Sinemet, a common medication used in the management of Parkinson’s disease. As a result, some doctors recommend that people with Parkinson’s limit protein intake to 12 percent of their total daily calories. And taking your medication on an empty stomach before your meals can help your body absorb the drug, notes the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation.

The Michael J. Fox Foundation recommends avoiding certain foods because of possible medication interactions, including:

Cured, fermented, or dried meats or fish

Aged cheese

Fermented cabbage

Soy products

Red wine and beer

Iron supplements

In addition, fruits and vegetables in your diet may protect nerve cell function and possibly help keep Parkinson’s symptoms under control. Fruits and veggies also provide fiber, which can stimulate bowel movement and prevent constipation. Ask your doctor for a referral to a nutritionist to help make it easier to follow a healthy diet.

Social And Emotional Activities For Dementia Patients

Create a mystery bag. One of the most popular activities you can use is called Mystery Bag, or Stereognostic Bag.

What you need for this activity:

• 10 pairs of wooden shapes such as cubes, rectangular cubes, prisms, spheres, and eggs
• A cloth bag

Start by spending a few moments having the person look and feel each shape.

Have them observe the different forms each shape takes on when placed down on a different side. Once theyre familiar with the shapes, you can move on to activities that involve touch.

Place the cubes and rectangular cubes inside the bag, and ask the person to reach in and feel one shape. As they pull the shape out of the bag, they verbally say whether the shape is a cube or a rectangle.

You can also play a matching game with the person in your care by placing all of the wooden shapes in the bag, and have the person find matching pieces by feel. Repeat this process until all of the pieces have been paired.

Placing the objects in the bag eliminates distractions and stimulates the sense of touch, while the matching process helps to strengthen cognitive function. Activities & Games for Dementia and Alzheimers Patients, Elizz Twitter:

Playing with dolls can help to fulfill needs for comfort and attachment. While individuals may have different views on the use of dolls and childrens toys with people with dementia, it is now widely recognized that dolls can offer a very powerful therapeutic benefit if used at the right time and in the right way.

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Memory Or Thinking Problems

Having issues with thinking and processing things could mean your disease is progressing. Parkinsons is more than a movement disorder. The disease has a cognitive part as well, which means it can cause changes in the way your brain works.

During the final stage of the disease, some people may develop dementia or have hallucinations. However, hallucinations can also be a side effect of certain medications.

If you or your loved ones notice that youre getting unusually forgetful or easily confused, it might be a sign of advanced-stage Parkinsons.

Stretching To Loosen Stiff Muscles Of Parkinson’s

The following stretching and flexibility exercises can help to relieve stiff muscles, improve flexibility, and make everyday tasks easier:

Stand facing a wall, about 8 inches away and reaching your arms upward. Place your hands on the wall for balance and stretch out your arms and back.

Place your back against a wall for support and briskly march in place, lifting your knees as high as possible.

Sit in a chair with a high, straight back and stretch your arms behind it, bringing your shoulders back as far as you can. As you stretch, lift your head toward the ceiling.

Sitting in a chair, stomp your feet up and down while pumping your arms back and forth at your sides.

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Cooking Household Tasks And Gardening

You can keep or start cooking, as long as it is safe for you. If it becomes difficult, there are some small changes that can make things easier.

For example, you can:

• ask someone to help you in the kitchen
• try recipes that have fewer steps or ingredients
• use pre-prepared ingredients such as ready-made
• sauces or chopped vegetables.

Many jobs around the home also provide a good form of gentle exercise and can help you to keep physically active. These include:

• doing housework for example, washing up, folding clothes or dusting
• gardening for example, gently weeding the garden, maintaining houseplants, or growing herbs or flowers in window boxes.

You can ask someone to do these tasks with you if this makes them more enjoyable or easier.

Tip: It can be helpful to put out the things you need before starting a task so that you have a visual prompt for example, tools for gardening or ingredients for cooking.

Other Places To Find Support

Support groups aren’t for everyone. If they don’t appeal to you, there’s no need to force it. If you were involved in community, religious or hobby-based organizations in your life before Parkinson’s, keep up those ties and friendships. In addition, educating yourself about Parkinson’s, and getting involved with local or national Parkinson’s organizations, can be ways to meet people who share some experiences with you without joining a support group.

Find Support in the Parkinsons Buddy Network

Create connections and find community online in the Parkinsons Buddy Network. Were building an online support system, one buddy at a time.

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Changes In Sleeping Patterns

As Parkinsons progresses, you can also develop problems with sleep patterns. These may not happen in the early stages, but can be noticeable later. You might wake up often in the middle of the night or sleep more during the day than you do at night.

Another common sleep disturbance for people with Parkinsons is rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder. This is when you start acting out your dreams in your sleep, such as verbally and physically, which can get uncomfortable if someone is sharing your bed. Dr. Rundle-Gonzalez says many times a bed partner will be the one to notice sleep problems.

REM sleep behavior disorder can also happen in people who dont have Parkinsons. However, if this isnt something youve dealt with before, its likely related to your disease. There are medications your doctor can prescribe to help you sleep comfortably through the night.

Get Into A Good Routine

If possible, try and make bedtime and wake-up time the same everyday. Try and establish a nightime and morning routine as this will help signal to them what time of day it is. Things that can encourage better sleeping habits include a bath, playing music, brushing teeth, a hot milky drink or even the scent of lavender on a pillow from a scented spray.

A scented pillow spray can help overcome restlessness or trouble drifting off. The smell of the lavender blend naturally encourages sleep. This is particularly helpful to those in the later stages of dementia when it is common for patients to respond to the sense of smell.

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Great Activities For Keeping A Senior With Alzheimers Occupied

By Natalie Hodge 9 am on July 24, 2019

Seniors with Alzheimers do best when their days are full of activities that keep them busy. Your aging loved one may no longer be able to do some former hobbies, but that doesnt mean he or she can no longer have fun. Activities for people with Alzheimers should be safe and simple enough for them to do with minimal assistance. Here are five great ideas that can help you get started on keeping your loved ones mind and hands occupied.

Best Tips To Look After Your Condition

1. Meditate: Start your day with a short meditation, give yourself inner peace by practicing the relaxing and rhythmic breathing techniques of meditation. All you need is to lie down on the bed and close your eyes, and then think of relaxing memories while you control the way you breathe. Doing this self-care for Parkinsons disease tip can do wonders for your psyche, it helps you attain a sense of balance in your life.

2. Do Small Exercises Consistently: Exercise whenever you have the time. You dont have to lift weights for you to say youre exercising. After you meditate, you can stretch your muscles out a bit. Try to roll your head slowly round and round, then your arms, and lastly, your legs. Sit down comfortably, then bring your knees as far into your torso as you can. Do little movements, and remember that youre not trying to become buff youre trying to flex your muscles to promote good blood circulation and ease those stiff parts.

3. Perform Simple Tasks that Need Precise Movements: Since Parkinsons disease involves involuntary movements of the muscles, it certainly helps to condition your body with tasks that are simple yet precise. You can make simple meals for yourself and do easy chores like fixing your bed, not only will it keep you busy, but it will also help control your body motion because cooking and household chores require small and precise movements.

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Eating Drinking And Parkinson’s Disease

• Don’t rush your meals. Allow the extra time you need to finish your meal. Rest your elbows on the table to provide more motion at your wrist and hand.
• Sit with your knees and hips bent at a 90-degree angle in a straight-back chair.
• Use utensils with built-up, lightweight handles, or use a “spork” — a spoon and fork in one. Use a rocker knife for cutting food.
• Use a non-skid mat to stabilize objects on the table.
• Use a plate guard or plate with a raised lip to prevent food from spilling.
• Use a long straw with a non-spill cup or use a plastic mug with a large handle.

Energy Conserving Tips For Those With Parkinson’s Disease

• Simplify your tasks and set realistic goals. Don’t think you have to do things the same way you’ve always done them.
• Plan your activities ahead of time. Space them out throughout the day. Do not schedule too many things to do in one day. Do the things that take more energy when you are feeling your best.
• If needed, rest before and after activities.
• If you become tired during an activity, stop and rest. You may need to finish it on another day or when you feel less tired.
• Do not plan activities right after a meal. Rest 20-30 minutes after each meal.
• Ask for help. Divide the tasks among family and friends.
• Get a good night’s sleep and elevate your head when sleeping. Be careful not to nap too much during the day or you might not be able to sleep at night.
• If your doctor says it’s ok, you may climb steps. You may need to rest part of the way if you become tired. Try to arrange your activities so you do not have to climb up and down stairs many times during the day.
• Avoid extreme physical activity. Do not push, pull, or lift heavy objects that require you to strain.

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Helping With Simple Chores

Your loved one may get agitated when you leave him or her alone so you can do essential tasks such as laundry. If so, find ways your loved one can help. For instance, you could fill a bin with soapy water and let him or her wash a few plastic dishes. Your loved one may also enjoy folding towels, matching socks, or sweeping the floor. These activities may not always be performed up to your standards, but your loved one may enjoy feeling helpful.

Aging adults with Alzheimers disease can benefit from receiving professional Alzheimers care. Austinseniors need regular mental stimulation when managing memory-related conditions, and a reliable in-home caregiver who has extensive training in Alzheimers care can be a great asset.

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Join The Parkinsons Forums: An Online Community For People With Parkinsons Disease And Their Caregivers

The emotional confusion of being overwhelmed puts a halt to effective project engagement. The way out of being so damn busy and feeling weighed down is to put into place some form of a time management system. The first thing is to realize how much time your chronic disease consumes each week. There are lots of ways this happens, and flexibility is crucial to coping.

The second thing is to set aside the time needed for things that add to your well-being, like sleep, exercise, meals, and family. If you are like me, with lots of irons in the fire, you have a full list of things that require your time. It comes down to making choices, setting priorities. Sometimes, we have to say no to people.

Time is a resource that can be thought of like money. There is a limited time budget to spend, and I want to allocate that time in the best way possible in order to get the most out of this life with a chronic disease. I spend time in concentrated blocks of three to four hours. This helps to avoid distractions. Also, these blocks can be reallocated when something unexpected comes up something always does!

Delegation, when appropriate, is a good time-management strategy. My partner has taken on the email, social networking, and the appointment calendar, which frees up time.

What issues do you face with not having enough time in the week to get everything done?

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