Friday, March 29, 2024

Living Alone With Parkinson’s

What Are The Risk Factors Of Contracting Parkinsons Disease

PD Solo: Living Alone While Living with Parkinson’s Disease – Part 1

According to the Mayo Clinic, doctors and researchers still havent pinpointed the cause of Parkinsons disease, but theyve identified several risk factors. Most likely, Parkinsons disease is caused by a combination of environmental exposures and genetics.

Genetics

Age

Environmental Exposures

Sex

Myth : Parkinsons Is Only A Motor Condition

Fact: While its true that Parkinsons disease symptoms include shaking and tremor, rigid muscles, slowness of movement, and a frozen or flat expression, its a lot more than that.

Nonmotor symptoms deserve and are getting more attention from doctors and researchers. These symptoms include cognitive impairment or dementia , anxiety and depression, fatigue, sleep problems and more.

For some patients, nonmotor symptoms are more disabling than motor symptoms, which are the focus of treatment. Be sure to talk to your doctor about other issues so you can get all of your symptoms addressed.

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Why Do We Need Hands Free Phones For Disabled People

For persons with disabilities, the mobile revolution has been a turning point. With their smartphone, they are able to take part in society as anybody else. However, the same mobile technology has also brought new challenges for them.

What is the use of a smartphone if you cannot read messages because you are blind or you cannot type on the screen because you have tetraplegia? That is the reason why mobile accessibility is so important. Think of it as the mobile version of a ramp to enter a building or the closed captions of a TV programme.

Although there is still a lot of work to be done, bigger and smaller organisations all over the world are creating tools and apps that make smartphones accessible for all.

In this article, we focus on solutions for hands-free access to phones that are available for disabled persons that cannot use the touchscreen of their device with their hands: persons with cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, ALS, Parkinson and other neuromuscular disorders. For them, the ability to access to their phones hands-free is of vital importance.

Although accessibility aids are initially thought for persons with disabilities, they can be useful for everyone. Imagine a person carrying shopping bags, driving a car or holding a baby. Here is our overview of the hands free phones or alternative solutions for disabled people that are available today:

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How Can Hospice Help Your Loved One In The Final Stages Of Parkinsons Disease

Hospice care is an extra layer of support to help you care for your loved one with end-stage Parkinsons disease. It is a special kind of care that provides comfort, support, and dignity at the end of life.

The comprehensive program focuses on physical, emotional, and spiritual quality of life through the help of a team of experts. The team includes a board-certified physician, nurse, social worker, certified home health aide , spiritual support counselor, and volunteer.

The nurse will explain the prognosis and what to expect in the upcoming days or weeks. They will also monitor pain and other symptoms. The CHHA helps with personal care needs like bathing and changing bed linens. The social worker helps address social, emotional and practical challenges including complex and inter-related needs. The spiritual support counselor helps explore spiritual concerns.

Most importantly, the hospice team will be there for you during this difficult time, bringing you peace of mind. The team is on call 24 hours a day even at 2:00 am.

Hospice is about making your final months and weeks as good as possible. This means focusing on what really matters to you.

Parkinson’s Disease And Movement Disorders Center

Living Alone With Parkinson

Our center provides compassionate and timely treatment to patients with movement disorders, such as dystonia, ataxia, essential tremor and similar conditions. But our mission goes beyond patient care excellence. By offering educational events and support groups, we empower patients and caregivers to become better partners in their health.

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Caring For Someone With Parkinsons Disease

Caring for someone with Parkinsons disease will change as the condition progresses.Your loved one is likely to cope well on their own during the early stages, and may only require transportation to doctors appointments, social engagements, and shopping trips. But their dependence will inevitably grow, and at some point, they may need your help with daily personal tasks, medication management, making financial decisions, and advocating with healthcare providers on their behalf.

Parkinsons disease places a significant burden on family caregivers, and they tend to suffer from higher rates of anxiety, depression, and sleep-related problems. These issues are even more common when Parkinsons disease causes a loved one to experience dementia, hallucinations, and other cognitive issues.

Caring for someone with Parkinsons disease can also result in social isolation, especially once the disorder reaches advanced stages. In some cases, caregivers reported that their increasing responsibilities led to tension with a spouse or partner. They were also more likely to report financial strain, especially if they reduced work hours or left their jobs entirely because of caregiving obligations.

How To Talk To A Loved One About Parkinsons Disease

These are some strategies that can be helpful while talking to a loved one about Parkinsons disease:

  • Check in regularly: Check in on the person regularly to ask them how theyre feeling and coping.
  • Use empathetic language: Parkinsons disease can affect a persons ability to go about their daily life. The person might find it challenging to do things they once did easily. This can be difficult and frustrating for them. Try to be empathetic when you speak to them, so they feel supported.
  • Offer assistance: As Parkinsons disease progresses, the person may not be able to drive, cook, clean, or care for themselves. Offer them your assistance and let them know they can count on you.
  • Encourage them to settle their affairs: If your loved one is in a position to make important decisions, it can be helpful to encourage them to settle their affairs.

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Best Mouse For Parkinsons Patients

Around 50% of the people that are suffering from Parkinsons disease also suffer from significant challenges while performing their daily routine activities. Additionally, due to extensive hand tremors because of the disease, the patients have a hard time while using the mouse.

Because they dont know if there are any possible solutions, the majority have them have no experience whatsoever in using the possible alternatives to the conventional mouse.

Although some of the users have previous experience while using a touchpad, the majority of them dont even know if there are any possible options out there. Here are some of the best mice for Parkinsons patients.

Recognize Parkinsons Disease Symptoms In A Loved One

Living alone with Parkinson’s

Close friends and family members are often the first to notice the symptoms of Parkinsons disease. However, these changes are easily confused with the typical signs of aging, particularly in the early stages.

The symptoms of Parkinsons disease include:

  • Tremors or shaking in the hand or jaw
  • Jerky, rigid movements

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Maintaining Quality Of Life

Some will experience changes in motor skills, as generally experienced with early stage PD. Others can develop substantial mental health disruption in addition to the deterioration in motor function that may make it difficult to live on your own.

There are some basic things you can do to maintain or improve quality of life. Many resources are available online and in your community.

Tips For Living With Parkinsons Disease

The challenges of living with Parkinson’s disease often go misunderstood. Therefore, if you’re living with Parkinson’s disease, it’s important to educate yourself about the condition, so you know what to expect and when to ask for help. Here are some tips to help you live better with Parkinsons disease:

  • Stick to your medication schedule write it down or keep a diary if you have to
  • Establish a daily routine to keep your medications, mealtimes and sleep cycles on track
  • Relieve stress practice yoga, meditation or mindfulness to keep stress at bay
  • Get regular exercise to improve your balance, flexibility and mental health
  • Maintain a healthy, balanced diet thats high in fiber and low in processed foods
  • Follow your bodys signals take a break or rest if you feel low on energy
  • Establish a rapport with a specialist and attend regular medical appointments
  • Make sure you have a support system whether thats your family, a group of friends or neighbors or a Parkinsons support group
  • Dont be afraid to ask for help from your loved ones or carers
  • Take up a hobby that takes your mind off your symptoms, such as painting, journaling or gardening

Living with Parkinsons disease comes with many challenges. If you have just been diagnosed with PD or you know someone who has, its important to educate yourself about Parkinsons so you know what to expect. If you have any questions, you can consult your doctor or call the National Parkinsons Foundation helpline at 1-800-4PD-INFO .

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Volunteer To Help Out

Everyday responsibilities like shopping, cooking, and cleaning become much more difficult when you have a movement disorder.

Sometimes people with Parkinsons need help with these and other tasks, but they may be too proud or embarrassed to ask for it.

Step in and offer to run errands, prepare meals, drive to medical appointments, pick up medications at the drug store, and help with any other day-to-day tasks they have difficulty with on their own.

Living With Parkinsons Lessons Learned

[Webinar] LIVING ALONE WITH PARKINSON

by John P. Creveling |

On March 31 st of this year, I will observe my eleventh year of being diagnosed with Parkinsons disease. As I say that, repeating it out loud, eleven years, it prompts me to realize how quickly these years have gone by. At the same time, Im truly mindful of how incredibly fortunate and even blessed I am to live a purposeful life, with my intentions and vision on the present and future.

Recently I participated in a documentary film called Parkinsons Third Wind by Peter Barton. It showcases inspired Parkinsons patients refusing to let the disease define us. The trailer for this film can be viewed at this end of my commentary.

Listed below are a few of the lessons Ive learned on my journey living with PD. You need not wait to be diagnosed with an illness to live life fully. Consider these as steps on a path that may lead you on your journey into the future discovering a full, rich, and meaningful filled life with joy and happiness.

This Day. It didnt take me long to realize that if I didnt focus on one day at a time, I wouldnt be able to do all that I told myself was important to me. While we are able, we get to decide how we chose to live this day the one that is here now. What will you focus on, what will you do with this time, this gift of today? Now, the present, is much more of value to us than our yesterdays, and yes, even our tomorrows.

About the AuthorRead More Commentary

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Staying Connected While Living Alone

Living alone does not mean you are alone there are plenty of people who can help support you. Your network of support may include:

  • Family
  • Support group
  • Faith community

Pets can also provide support. Pets can also be registered as an emotional support animal, which can help ease anxiety and provide therapeutic support in public places.

There are many ways to stay connected to your existing support network or to make new connections. Try these options from home:

Tip: On days when you are struggling emotionally, try to talk to one person or accomplish one task. Making a connection or participating in an activity can help boost your motivation and decrease feelings of loneliness.

Yes But With Some Simple Steps To Maintainemotional Well

Living alone is possible for many people with Parkinsons. As the disease is unique in each individual, there is no single approach to self-care and independence1. Seeing friends or family, staying active, being involved in work or hobbies, and having a support group are all important aspects to maintain quality of life and encourage emotional well-being1,2.Changes such as decluttering, purchasing easy-to-use utensils in the kitchen, and perhaps seeking help with household chores may all be helpful to someone who lives alone1.

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Whats The Life Expectancy For A Senior With Parkinsons

By Amanda Butas 9 am on February 15, 2021

Parkinsons is a progressive disorder that negatively affects mobility, dexterity, and cognitive health. There currently isnt a cure for Parkinsons, but doctors have come up with a wide variety of treatments that can minimize or delay some of the most prominent symptoms. Heres a closer look at the average life expectancy of a person with Parkinsons and a few steps that can be taken to increase longevity after being diagnosed with this disorder.

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Suggest They Join A Support Group

Living Alone With Parkinson’s: Live Well Webinar Series

A Parkinsons support group will allow your loved one to share their thoughts and feelings with others who are experiencing the same thing. This may help reduce loneliness and isolation.

Your loved one may learn about treatment options and resources that have helped others in the group, and make new friends in the process. Support groups also usually welcome the families and friends of people with Parkinsons.

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Parkinsons Disease Is A Progressive Disorder

Parkinsons Disease is a slowly progressive neurodegenerative disorder that primarily affects movement and, in some cases, cognition. Individuals with PD may have a slightly shorter life span compared to healthy individuals of the same age group. According to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinsons Research, patients usually begin developing Parkinsons symptoms around age 60. Many people with PD live between 10 and 20 years after being diagnosed. However, a patients age and general health status factor into the accuracy of this estimate.

While there is no cure for Parkinsons disease, many patients are only mildly affected and need no treatment for several years after their initial diagnosis. However, PD is both chronic, meaning it persists over a long period of time, and progressive, meaning its symptoms grow worse over time. This progression occurs more quickly in some people than in others.

Pharmaceutical and surgical interventions can help manage some of the symptoms, like bradykinesia , rigidity or tremor , but not much can be done to slow the overall progression of the disease. Over time, shaking, which affects most PD patients, may begin to interfere with daily activities and ones quality of life.

Dataset And Feature Selection

Participant clustering was performed based on the features selected from the tapping task. Figure summarized the process performed in this study. The tapping activity requires a participant to lay the phone on a flat surface and use two fingers on the same hand to alternatively tap two stationary points on the screen for 20 seconds. For the MDS-UPDRS III, a participant needs to respond to the selected questions from Part I and Part II of the MDS-UPDRS which focusing largely on self-evaluation of the motor symptoms of PD 1.1, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.7, 1.8, 2.1, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 2.8, 2.9, 2.10, 2.12, 2.13. PDQ-8 data contains a self-completed Parkinsons Disease Questionnaire short form. Note that we had been informed by MDS that the MDS-UPDRS mPower Survey has been altered from the original scale and has not been clinimetrically tested for validity and reliability. We acknowledge that the MDS-UPDRS mPower Survey is not a true and actual representation of the MDS-UPDRS and that use of the MDS-UPDRS mPower Survey data in research is not endorsed by MDS.

Figure 1

The following features are extracted from all three of these values:

  • Basic statistics

Finally, the following features with no direct relations to the aforementioned values are included:

  • Total number of taps .

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Tips For Living Alone With Pd

Living alone with Parkinsons involves adapting to your circumstances. Here are a few tips for making everyday tasks easier to manage:

  • Tailor your living space to your needs. One benefit of living alone is the ability to organize your own space. Place essential items where you can easily see and access them, so you can find what you need when you need it.
  • Keep a pair of pliers handy. This multi-purpose tool can help assist you with opening jars or bags.
  • Adjust your phone settings. There are various options that can simplify using a smartphone. Consider turning on these features to better control your phone and stay connected:
  • Touch Accommodations: This feature changes how the screen on your device responds to taps, swipes and other gestures.
  • Voice Commands: Voice assistants like Siri or Google Assistant reduce the need to use your hands for phone access. These tools can be used to launch applications, make phone calls and dictate text messages.
  • Create a scheduling strategy. Schedule commitments around the times of day when you typically feel your best. Identify how many tasks you can usually accomplish on a good day or a bad day to avoid overscheduling. Set timers for your medications so you remember to take them on schedule.
  • Reach out to your network of support. Ask for help with challenging tasks. Even if you are able to take care of yourself, shifting some responsibility can help you save energy for things you enjoy, like hobbies or social interaction.
  • Tips For Yourself As A Caregiver

    Living Alone With Parkinson

    While caring for someone with Parkinsons disease, its also important to care for yourself. These are some tips that can be helpful:

    • Allow yourself time to process your emotions: Your loved one may not be the only person struggling to accept their diagnosis and prognosis. You may feel like youre in an alternate reality, where your whole world has turned upside down. Take the time you need to process your emotions so that you can stabilize yourself and be a source of support for them.
    • Set realistic goals:Caregiving can be stressful and take a lot of work. It can be helpful to set realistic goals for yourself and determine your limits.
    • Forgive imperfections: There may be times when youre unable to do everything you planned to or as well as you hoped to. Be kind to yourself accept that youre human and everything may not always be perfect.
    • Explore community resources: It can be helpful to locate medical services, support groups, and other community services for your loved one as well as yourself in advance before you need them.

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