The Parkinson’s Caregiver: Four Ways to Help Both You and Your Loved One Cope

According to the Parkinson’s Foundation, approximately one million Americans live with Parkinson’s disease (PD). The condition usually affects older adults over the age of 65, with the incidence of the disease increasing with advancing age. Because PD is a progressive nervous system disorder that affects movement, many older adults living with the condition rely on a family caregiver to help them navigate their day.

Providing care for a loved one with PD can be very challenging, especially as the disease progresses. Seeing a loved one struggle with rigidity, tremors, and loss of movement is disheartening and exhausting. April is Parkinson’s Disease Awareness Month, a month dedicated to raising awareness about the disease and highlighting available resources to both patient and caregiver. If you are caring for a loved one with PD, here are four ways to help both you and your loved one cope.

Join a Support Group

The first step to helping both you and your loved one cope with PD is to join a PD support group. Encourage your loved one to join one specifically for PD patients while looking for a caregiver of PD support group. Support groups are wonderful, safe places to vent your feelings. They are great resources for information on how to treat and care for someone with PD. Many also provide educational opportunities so that you can learn more about your treatment options and the disease itself.

Set Realistic Goals

Next, work with your loved one to set realistic goals. Realistic goals are measurable and attainable with persistence. Instead of saying, “I want to maintain mobility,” set an exercise goal that will help you achieve your goal. A realistic goal might look something like this: “I will walk around the block with a family member four times a week to maintain my mobility.” As the family caregiver, let your loved one lead the way in setting their goals. Then, work with them to tweak the goal so that it’s realistic.

Take Care of Yourself

For both you and your loved one with PD to cope, the family caregiver needs to take care of themselves. Running yourself ragged will only cause you more harm than good. Continue to live your life as normal as possible. Meet up with friends, engage in your favorite leisure pursuits, and stick to a routine schedule. When you continually sacrifice your self-care to care for your loved one, you increase your risk of caregiver burnout and resentment feelings.

Slow Down

The last way to help both you and your loved one cope is to slow down. Understand that as the disease progresses, it’s going to take your loved ones longer and longer to mobilize, swallow, and even verbalize their thoughts. They may freeze mid-stand or hesitate while talking. Recognize that they have no control over their symptoms. Give them time to respond. Also, give you and your loved one plenty of time to get ready for and drive to an appointment. Take it one care task at a time and monitor your loved one for signs of fatigue.

One final way to help you and your loved one with PD cope is to partner with Visiting Angels South Elgin. Let our caregivers become a part of your care team. We offer a comprehensive approach to senior home care that is customized to meet each client’s individual needs and preferences. We work with you to create a schedule so that your loved ones can maintain their preferred routine while giving you time to step away so that you can take care of yourself. Our caregivers are professional and compassionate, giving you and your loved one peace of mind that they are in good hands. To learn more about our home care services or schedule a free consultation, please contact us by calling 847-429-0100.