Home Care for Parkinson’s in Bangor, ME

Visiting Angels of Bangor Provides Home Care for Parkinson's

Parkinson’s is one of the most debilitating and emotionally draining diseases affecting older adults. The physical effects, such as shaking and poor gait, are obvious to those around the individual with the disease. However, there are things that are much less obvious, such as the increased difficulty of communicating with family members. If your loved one struggles with Parkinson’s, it’s likely that you are all too familiar with how tough it can be to simply hold a conversation. Being patient and recognizing what your loved one needs to communicate can be incredibly beneficial to their overall wellbeing.

Unfortunately, there is no way to predict exactly how Parkinson’s may affect your loved one. You should expect it to affect speech, potentially increasing pace of speech and causing a stutter. Nonverbal communication will become virtually obsolete once Parkinson’s has set in. Hand movements and facial expressions may not be used or recognized by your loved one anymore. Being attentive may also prove difficult as he or she may have difficulty comprehending what you are saying.

In order to keep a solid relationship with your loved one, a few notable tips can be applied. Direct all attention toward the interaction and steer clear of group settings, as they may be overwhelming. Call your loved one by name instead of using pronouns to make them feel valued. Avoid abruptly switching subjects so that your loved one can keep up. Also, completing sentences might be difficult for your loved one, so be patient and let him or her find the words to finish the thought without interrupting.

Taking care of a person with Parkinson’s can be both mentally and physically taxing and may cause exhaustion. If you feel that describes your situation it may be time to look into home care. Visiting Angels of Bangor Home Care Professionals are available to come into your loved ones home and help to fulfill his or her needs while you get much deserved rest.

Speech and occupational therapy are alternative routes that you can take. You should see a speech pathologist early on to make a solid judgement of your loved one’s capabilities. Further speech therapy can help with rate of speech and tone of voice. Occupational therapy is a good option to improve declining motor skills. These services should be requested after your loved one has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s.

You may have a hard time dealing with Parkinson’s in your loved one, but you don’t have to do it alone. Seek out home care services if you need a helping hand.

Call Visiting Angels Bangor to learn our home care services can help your family. Our caregivers work with your loved one so they can feel comfortable and secure in the privacy of their own home!