Communicating With Parkinson’s In Central Coast, CA

You are likely mindful of the effects of Parkinson’s if your loved one has been diagnosed with the disease. A few commonly occurring symptoms are compulsory shaking and deteriorating gait. However, the symptom that will most likely affect your relationship with your loved one will be difficulty in communicating. Communication as you know it today, may no longer be possible with your loved one.  However, with the knowledge you gain by reading information provided by Visiting Angels Central Coast Elder Services, you may be able to improve the situation.

Parkinson’s varies from person to person, making it all the more challenging. Speech is most often affected, causing an abnormally fast pace and a stutter. Your loved one will also struggle with hand gestures, facial expressions and virtually all nonverbal communication. This is something you must learn to do without. Word comprehension may also prove difficult for your loved one. Attentiveness might be lacking so it important to remain patient.

Preserving a close bond with your loved one is achievable through changes in behavior that account for his or her mental deficiencies. Directing your attention to the conversation and making eye contact is a good start. Limiting interactions to one-on-one conversations will prove to be very helpful. Use simple language and try to make things as easy to follow as you can. Call your loved one by name instead of just using a pronoun. Don’t ask open ended questions or change subjects without warning.

Be patient with your loved one while awaiting a response. Interjecting may cause frustration and he or she might just need a little longer to come up with the right word.

Parkinson’s presents many challenges for sufferer and caretaker alike. If you find yourself struggling with the burden of taking care of your loved one, consider elder services. Hire somebody to make home visits so you can take a reprieve from the caretaking. You can also see a therapist. A speech therapist should be seen to identify that your loved one is swallowing correctly and make a judgment call regarding his or her speech needs. Further sessions could improve overall speech and remove communication barriers. Occupational therapy is a good option to retain motor skills.

Parkinson’s can be draining for anyone responsible for care. Search for elder services that will provide the right care for your senior loved one.