Living with Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder affecting nearly one million American adults. Parkinson’s affects the neurons in the brain responsible for producing dopamine. When the body doesn’t have enough dopamine, it can affect different movement and motor skills, making it challenging to walk, talk, and eat. April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month. It’s a time to help people understand Parkinson’s disease and work with those living with the condition to live their highest quality of life.
Tips for Managing Parkinson’s Disease
While many challenges come with Parkinson’s disease, it is still possible to live a quality life with a few strategies for managing your emotional and physical well-being.
Don’t ignore how you’re feeling
If you’re feeling depressed or anxious about your condition or how it’s affecting your ability to do certain things, know you’re not alone. According to the Parkinson’s Foundation, up to 50 percent of people with Parkinson’s experience high levels of depression and anxiety. While there is nothing wrong with feeling upset, you don’t want to ignore your emotions. Instead, be honest about how you’re feeling and talk to your doctor about treatment options. Speaking with a therapist, medications, and lifestyle changes may help reduce depression symptoms and improve your overall mood.
Connect with others in a similar situation
Chronic conditions such as Parkinson’s can make you feel alone at times, but you’re not alone in your feelings or what you’re experiencing. More than one million people in the United States have Parkinson’s disease, and doctors diagnose nearly 60,000 new cases each year. Research support groups in your area, or you can find an online network where you can connect with others living with Parkinson’s disease.
In addition to connecting with other people who have Parkinson’s disease, don’t underestimate the value of building a solid support system among your family and friends. Allow yourself to be vulnerable with the people closest to you. Sharing your thoughts and feelings with them can help them better understand your situation, and it can help lift your spirits during rough patches.
Exercise
Regular physical activity is helpful for your physical and emotional health. Regular exercise can improve your mood and reduce symptoms associated with depression and anxiety. From a physical standpoint, stretching and strength training are beneficial for maintaining muscle strength, flexibility, and balance, mainly as Parkinson’s develops into advanced stages. It’s best to work with a physical therapist to ensure you’re exercising safely and efficiently.
How Visiting Angels Can Help
If you have Parkinson’s Disease, you may not think you’re capable of aging at home, but you can live safely and comfortably with the help of an at-home caregiver. At Visiting Angels, our professional caregivers are trained to help seniors with Parkinson’s with daily household tasks. We provide a range of companion services that include light housekeeping, laundry, meal preparation, and medication reminders. As the disease progresses, we also offer personal care services to help clients dress, groom, bathe, and toileting tasks. We also assist with mobility and can provide transportation to and from doctor’s appointments.
We also have respite care services which are short-term or temporary services to help relieve family caregivers. Caring for a loved one with Parkinson’s can feel like a full-time job. We want to help take some of the stress and work away from family caregivers so they can relax, recharge, and spend more simply enjoying their loved one’s company.
Our Rockwall office serves those in Rockwall and the surrounding communities. If you’re interested in learning more about our services, you can call us at 214.703.8123 or complete our online form.