Tips For Parkinson’s Patients

What Type Of Healthcare Professional Helps People With Speech Problems From Parkinsons Disease

If you have speech and voice problems, see a speech-language therapist. Your primary healthcare provider can help you find a therapist in your local area. Some speech-language pathologists have specialized training that focuses on training people with Parkinsons disease to amplify their voice. This is called the Lee Silverman Voice Treatment.

Speech-language therapists are specifically trained to diagnose and treat speech, language and swallowing disorders. If you have Parkinsons disease, a speech-language pathologist can help you:

• Maintain as many communication skills as possible. Teach you techniques to conserve energy, including using nonverbal communication skills.
• Introduce you to assistive devices and techniques to help improve your communication.
• Recommend exercises to help you improve muscle strength and movements needed to improve your speech and communication options.

Managing Anger And Irritability In Parkinsons As A Caregiver

Informal caregivers particularly family members often play a significant role in helping and caring for loved ones with Parkinsons. Research has shown that caregivers are especially affected by caring for someone dealing with cognitive and mental dysfunctions from Parkinsons. These caregivers report higher caregiver burden and lower overall well-being and quality of life than caregivers of people with PD without significant cognitive impairment. Many caretakers of people with Parkinsons experience anxiety and depression.

The stress of caregiving is a common topic of conversation on MyParkinsonsTeam. One member wrote, My wife has Parkinsons. It is hard to deal with all her ups and downs. We are both exhausted.

Another member wrote about her husband with Parkinsons: His dementia is hard. He is emotional at times, angry at times, and is not aware where he is at times. One member said, My husband has Parkinsons, dementia, diabetes, and a bad heart. It is getting more and more difficult to give him his medications, as he gets very angry and does not take them.

Its important to remember that anger and irritability in people with Parkinsons is often a part of the disease. It is not your fault.

Tips For Caregiving For Parkinsons With Psychosis

Delusions, in particular, can be difficult to manage. A delusion is when someone has a strong, irrational belief about something that isnt true. Hallucinations, on the other hand, are when someone perceives something that isnt there. Hallucinations can involve sight, sound, smells, or other sensations. Its essential for caregivers to plan ahead for disease progression including behavioral changes.

My husband has PD dementia. He suffers from delusions and some paranoia. The past week or so has been difficult. He believes the delusion so strongly that it keeps him stressed. At times he wont eat, and he is having trouble sleeping, wrote a member.

I am a caregiver for my husband, another member said. His physical symptoms are getting worse, but the mental issues are by far the hardest to deal with. His paranoia, delusions, and hallucinations have gotten so bad that I am exhausted just trying to reassure him. I cant remember the last time I have gotten a good nights sleep. My husband naps all day long, then is up most of the night. I try to nap when he does, but its just not restful sleep.

Here are some tips for caregivers on how to manage psychotic symptoms when caring for someone with Parkinsons:

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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.

What Lifestyle Changes Are Recommended For Parkinsons Disease

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While there is no magic diet or exercise program that will cure Parkinsons disease , there are many ways you can improve your quality of life and manage symptoms with simple lifestyle changes.

Parkinsons shows up differently for everyone, so there is no one-size-fits-all approach to these lifestyle changes. Some patients may have significant motor symptoms, while others experience more cognitive and neuropsychiatric symptoms. One person may lose their sense of smell but have manageable tremors, while another can smell and taste as usual but have difficulty lifting a spoon to their mouth.

So while the overall aim for everyone is to make healthy choices, how you adjust your life to meet the challenges presented by PD will be unique to you.

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Tips For Parkinsons Disease Caregivers

Being a caregiver for a loved one who has Parkinsons disease can be very stressful. Its difficult to watch someone close to you suffer and you want to be able to do your best for them, but its important to remember that you also have to take care of yourself.

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Weve compiled a list of practical tips for caregivers of patients with Parkinsons disease to hopefully make their lives easier and to help ease the stress. Weve based our advice on information from the Michael J Fox Foundation and Partners in Parkinsons.

1. Be organized: Keep all of your loved ones medical notes, insurance, records, appointments, telephone numbers of clinics and doctors, and medication details in a folder that can be easily accessed at any time. Take this folder with you to all appointments so you always have everything on hand.

2. Look after yourself: In order to be able to look after your loved one, you need to be physically and emotionally well. Take time off its important to unwind and de-stress. Ask other family members and friends to help out or look into hiring professional care. Spend some time doing something you enjoy and take your mind off things for a few hours.

3. Understand the medical insurance: Make sure you fully understand your loved ones medical insurance policy what it does and doesnt cover and how to apply for reimbursements of medical costs.

Dealing With Irritability And Anger With Parkinsons

Parkinsons disease is associated with behavioral changes such as irritability and anger. These behavioral changes may coincide with cognitive decline and forms of psychosis, including delusions, hallucinations, or paranoia. Behavioral and mood changes in people with Parkinsons can be especially difficult for family members and caregivers, as MyParkinsonsTeam members often express.

Are outbursts of verbal anger and a hateful tone part of PD? Hubby is getting more difficult, wrote one member. Another member shared, Today is OK, but a couple days ago my husband with Parkinsons had an angry outburst at a friends house. It was quite embarrassing and it was over nothing. My friend and her husband were both shocked and afraid.

My mom is more confused and very irritable as well. She says things that she would never have said before, a member said.

PD is a progressive neurological disorder that affects the nervous system. Common symptoms include balance problems, slow movement, muscle stiffness, rigid facial expressions, and tremors. Cognitive, mental, and behavioral changes can also occur. There is currently no cure for Parkinsons, but medication and physical therapy can help people manage their symptoms. In rare cases, brain surgery such as deep brain stimulation can also be an option.

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Cheaper Simpler And Better: Tips For Treating Seniors With Parkinson Disease

• J. Eric Ahlskog, PhD, MD *Author Footnotes* Dr Ahlskog has no conflicts of interest to disclose, apart from citation of 2 books he authored on Parkinson disease.J. Eric AhlskogCorrespondenceIndividual reprints of this article are not available. Address correspondence to J. Eric Ahlskog, PhD, MD, Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, 200 First St SW, Rochester, MN 55905 ContactFootnotes* Dr Ahlskog has no conflicts of interest to disclose, apart from citation of 2 books he authored on Parkinson disease.Affiliations
• Show footnotesHide footnotesAuthor Footnotes* Dr Ahlskog has no conflicts of interest to disclose, apart from citation of 2 books he authored on Parkinson disease.

Foods Containing Saturated Fat And Cholesterol

Some studies suggest that dietary fat intake may increase the risk of Parkinsons.

Although having a higher intake of cholesterol can elevate a persons Parkinsons risk, having a higher intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids may reduce the risk.

Therefore, a person with Parkinsons may wish to reduce their intake of cholesterol to help control the symptoms of the condition. They may also wish to reduce the amount of saturated fat in their diet.

However, further studies are required to explore the link between dietary fat and Parkinsons.

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Our Top Care Partner Resources

• Contact our Helpline. Talk to a Helpline specialist at 1-800-4PD-INFO or for up-to-date information about Parkinsons, referrals to care professionals, local resources and more.
• Connect with your local Parkinsons Foundation Chapter.Find your local Chapter for nearby programs, support groups, and events, such as Moving Day, A Walk for Parkinsons, and join us in raising PD awareness and funds.
• Attend free care partner courses. Our Care Partner Program: Building a Care Partnership offers a series of self-paced online courses that feature conversations with care partners, lessons from health professionals and more.

Q: If I Am Prescribed A Course Of Cognitive Rehab What Should I Expect On My First Visit

A: You should expect a thorough evaluation of your cognition, with a focus on how it affects your everyday life. This may include neuropsychological testing, such as paper-and-pencil, verbal, or computerized tests of basic cognitive skills like executive function, memory, and attention. Perhaps more important is the assessment of how you integrate and apply your cognitive skills to perform complex, cognitively demanding daily activities. This information can be obtained by tests that involve performing real-life-like functional tasks, such as shopping, medication management, meal preparation, financial management, or scheduling. It is also critical for the therapist to conduct an interview with you and your care partner if possible about your daily life cognitive function, including your perceived cognitive strengths, challenges, concerns, and goals. This should then guide you and your therapist to collaborate in forming realistic and meaningful goals for your course of cognitive rehab and an appropriate treatment plan to reach them.

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Deep Brain Stimulation And Parkinsons

This resource educates patients and care partners about deep brain stimulation surgery as a treatment option to help manage symptoms, provides practical tips for thinking about, undergoing and living with DBS, includes perspectives and voices from the patient and family community and shares the latest research and DBS devices available.

Learn What To Look Out For And Seek Help On Time

Recognizing the warning signs of dysphagia early on means that you have time to seek medical help for the problem before it gets really bad. The relatives and loved ones of a person with Parkinson’s can also keep an eye out, as they may recognize the symptoms before the patient does.

You may have dysphagia if:

• You find yourself coughing while eating or drinking
• You’ve noticed that swallowing has become painful or you have a kind of pressure in your chest while eating
• You have a “gurgly” voice
• You’ve noticed that it’s harder and harder to swallow your meds
• You choke on food, drinks, or your saliva quite frequently
• You’re drooling because it’s hard to swallow your saliva
• You’re experiencing spontaneous weight loss
• Food “sticks” in the throat or on the palate
• Heartburn is becoming a more frequent occurrence
• You often have a sore throat

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Provide Balance Training Which Is Vital For People With Parkinson Disease

Falls are common among people with Parkinson disease. Balance training can improve your balance and reduce your risk of falling. It also can increase your confidence with balance and reduce the fear of falling, which limit your physical activity and lead to other problems and health conditions.

Other benefits of balance training include improving:

• Postural control.
• Quality of life.

How Can Listeners Help People Who Have Difficulty Speaking And Communicating

Here are some ways friends and family of people with Parkinsons disease can ease speaking and communication difficulties:

• Talk to the person with Parkinsons disease face-to-face only, and look at the person as he or she is speaking.
• Ask questions that require a simple “yes” or “no” answer.
• Repeat the part of the sentence that you understood.
• Ask the person to repeat what he or she said, to speak more slowly or spell out the words you did not understand.

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The Cost Of Living And Working With Parkinson’s Disease

$25 million. The combined direct and indirect cost of Parkinson’s disease, including treatment, Social Security payments and lost income in the United States alone.

$2,500. The average cost of medications for Parkinson’s patients each year.

$100,000. The average cost of therapeutic surgery that will set back a Parkinson’s patient.

Parkinson Disease: 9 Things To Know For Better Quality Of Life

Parkinson disease is a progressive neurological condition. While there is no cure, a physical therapist can help you delay many of its adverse effects. Physical therapists also can help you manage your physical symptoms. They address problems that limit your ability to move, walk, or do your daily tasks.

Based on high-quality evidence from a 2021 review of 242 research articles, physical therapy is vital for managing Parkinson disease. This is true both in the early and later stages of the disease.

High-quality evidence means that the researchers are very confident in the findings. Also, when evidence is of high quality, more research is not likely to change the results. The bottom line: People with Parkinson disease can benefit greatly from physical therapy. Heres how.

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Early Signs Parkinson Disease & Treatment Information

PARKINSONS DISEASE is a progressive disease. When I try to explain PD to both my patients and their loved ones, I often use the analogy of gasoline and how a car performs based on the quality and quantity of gas. There is a special chemical in the brain that essentially makes the muscles work in harmony to create orchestrated movements. Dopamine is the gasoline that makes our muscles operate/function with smooth, fluid and COORDINATED movements. Just like a car, if you put the low grade or poor quality gasoline in the car, the car will essentially run but the engine might sputter and run slower. If you dont keep a functional level of gas in the car, eventually it will stop running.

Living With Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s disease progresses over time, often taking years before symptoms appear. Because it develops gradually, most people have many years of productive living after being diagnosed.

The following are some tips from the National Parkinson Foundation for walking, standing and other day-to-day activities:

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Do Three Major Types Of Exercise

Combine aerobic exercise, strength training, and stretching for more significant improvements in daily function and quality of life. Do aerobic conditioning or cardiovascular exercise for 30 minutes, three times per week strength or resistance training for 30 minutes, three times per week and stretching or flexibility exercises daily.

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Know That Surgery Is Available But Manage Expectations

Surgery can be offered to people with advanced PD whose symptoms are not satisfactorily managed by medication alone.1,9 Deep brain stimulation is a well-established surgical treatment for PDit involves the implantation of programmable multi-contact electrodes directly into the brain to stimulate target areas connected by wires running under the skin to a subcutaneous neurostimulator, which is typically implanted below the clavicle.1.18 Deep brain stimulation does offer significant improvements in people who have motor symptoms that are responsive to levodopa but also have disabling motor fluctuations and dyskinesia.1,18,19

It should be strongly emphasised to patients and their carers that DBS does not represent a cure for PDit is a symptomatic treatment that can slow disease progression, but not arrest it.12,19 Deep brain stimulation will not improve symptoms in advanced PD that levodopa has not addressed, such as cognitive impairment, gait instability, mood disorders, speech impairment, and autonomic dysfunction, and may even worsen symptoms.17

What Causes Anger And Irritability In Parkinsons

The emotional toll of a Parkinsons diagnosis and the limitations caused by the condition can lead to feelings of frustration, shame, or fear resulting in mood changes like anger and irritability.

However, Parkinsons is also considered a neuropsychiatric condition because the disease itself can cause mood disorders. Parkinsons causes a decrease in dopamine, a neurotransmitter that affects both movement and mood. Low dopamine neuron levels are associated with an increase in depression and anxiety among people with Parkinsons. The disease also causes abnormalities with a protein in the brain called alpha-synuclein. This protein is associated with behavioral disturbances and cognitive impairment in people with Parkinsons.

Dementia and psychoses are also caused by changes in brain chemistry due to Parkisons. These conditions can lead to delusions, hallucinations, paranoia, passage , and agitated behavior. Some Parkinsons medications used to treat depleted dopamine may cause psychosis-like behavior as a side effect.

Behavioral and mood disorders may be treated with antidepressants, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or antipsychotic medications like clozapine, along with mental health counseling.

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