Sunday, March 24, 2024
Sunday, March 24, 2024
HomePatientGovernment Assistance For Parkinson's Patients

Government Assistance For Parkinson’s Patients

Seek The Counsel Of A Social Security Attorney When Applying For Disability With Parkinson’s Disease

Benefits and Parkinson’s

If you or a member of your family has been diagnosed with Parkinsons Disease, the symptoms which prompted the diagnosis may also serve as the qualifications for Social Security Disability benefits.

With the amount of documentation necessary to prove the presence of these qualifying criteria, it would likely be in your best interests to have your case evaluated by a Social Security Disability attorney who may be able to help with your claim.

While the degree of impairment caused by these symptoms may seem obvious to you, having them sufficiently documented so their impact is adequately illustrated on paper is imperative to receiving a positive decision from the Social Security Administration.

Working in close collaboration with your healthcare providers, a Social Security Disability attorney or disability advocate can be sure the proper documents are provided when your application is submitted so your benefits can begin as soon as possible.

Medications For Parkinsons Disease

After youve received a diagnosis of Parkinsons disease, your doctor will develop a treatment plan based on the diseases progression at the time you were diagnosed. Current pharmaceutical treatments include:

  • Levodopa is a primary treatment for movement, tremors, and stiffness. Levodopa helps nerve cells make dopamine. This medication is also taken with carbidopa so that levodopa can reach the brain and stop or reduce side effects from the drug, such as vomiting, nausea, and low blood pressure.
  • Dopamine agonists mimic dopamine in the brain but are not as effective as levodopa in controlling symptoms like muscle movement and rigidity.
  • Catechol O-methyltransferase inhibitors block an enzyme that breaks down dopamine. They are taken with levodopa and slow the bodys ability to get rid of levodopa.
  • MAO B inhibitors block monoamine oxidase B , a brain enzyme that breaks down dopamine. This allows dopamine to have longer-lasting effects.
  • Anticholinergics aid in reducing tremors and muscle stiffness.
  • Amantadine was first developed as an antiviral agent and can reduce involuntary movements caused by levodopa.
  • Istradefylline is an adenosine A2A receptor antagonist. It is used for people taking carbidopa and levodopa but who experience off symptoms.

These drugs can have a variety of side effects. Be sure to discuss your medications with your doctor so you understand how and when to take them, what side effects may occur, and when to report any concerning side effects.

Meal Preparation And Nutrition

Eating a healthy diet is important for those with Parkinsons disease. A clean and nutrient dense diet is critical because it helps strengthen muscles and bones while reducing muscle atrophy and excess fat accumulation. Home Care Assistance can help prepare healthy meals that will provide your loved one the nutrition he or she needs to maintain optimal health and vitality.

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Be Honest With Each Other

A trap some caregiver-patient partners can get into is one person becoming the nurse while the other is demoted to helpless patient. Thats not productive and can end up being harmful if, for example, the caregiver takes on responsibilities that the person with Parkinsons is perfectly capable of doing.

As a caregiver, try to start an open dialogue for tough conversations with your loved one where you come to an agreement about when the loved one truly needs help.

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Local Support Groups For Parkinsons Disease

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Thanks to the Internet, its relatively easy to find local support groups for Parkinsons disease. You can search Parkinsons disease support groups near me in Google with your Location Services switched on, and you should be directed to meetings in your area. Your doctor will also be able to give you information on local Parkinsons disease support groups, as well as the numbers to call if you have questions or need advice.

The American Parkinsons Disease Association has a useful tool for anyone trying to find support in their community, where you can search by zip code to find groups, classes and resources in your area.

Alternatively, you can search for online support groups for Parkinsons disease if you dont feel like meeting up in person. Online support groups can be a great help for those in the later stages of Parkinsons, where driving and getting around become increasingly difficult.

Some people with late-stage Parkinsons disease have difficulty with speech, while others find that tremors and dyskinesia make it difficult to type on a computer or smart device. Therefore, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to Parkinsons support groups. It can be helpful to try a few different Parkinsons disease support groups to find out what works best for you.

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Medicines For Parkinsons Disease

Medicines can help treat the symptoms of Parkinsons by:

  • Increasing the level of dopamine in the brain
  • Having an effect on other brain chemicals, such as neurotransmitters, which transfer information between brain cells
  • Helping control non-movement symptoms

The main therapy for Parkinsons is levodopa. Nerve cells use levodopa to make dopamine to replenish the brains dwindling supply. Usually, people take levodopa along with another medication called carbidopa. Carbidopa prevents or reduces some of the side effects of levodopa therapy such as nausea, vomiting, low blood pressure, and restlessness and reduces the amount of levodopa needed to improve symptoms.

People living with Parkinsons disease should never stop taking levodopa without telling their doctor. Suddenly stopping the drug may have serious side effects, like being unable to move or having difficulty breathing.

The doctor may prescribe other medicines to treat Parkinsons symptoms, including:

  • Dopamine agonists to stimulate the production of dopamine in the brain
  • Enzyme inhibitors to increase the amount of dopamine by slowing down the enzymes that break down dopamine in the brain
  • Amantadine to help reduce involuntary movements
  • Anticholinergic drugs to reduce tremors and muscle rigidity

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What Is The Trend Over Time In The Prevalence And Incidence Of Parkinsonism In Canada

Between 20042005 and 20132014, the number of Canadians living with diagnosed parkinsonism increased from approximately 61,000 to 84,000, while the number of Canadians newly diagnosed increased from approximately 8,000 to 10,000. However, during the same period, there was no significant change in the age-standardized prevalence proportion, which remained at 0.4%, or the incidence rate, which went from 51.6 per 100,000 to 52.6 per 100,000. The sex differential also remained constant over time for both indicators .

Figure 3: Age-standardized prevalence and incidence of diagnosed parkinsonism, including Parkinsons disease, among Canadians aged 40 years and older, by sex, 20042005 to 20132014

Figure 3: Age-standardized prevalence and incidence of diagnosed parkinsonism, including Parkinsons disease, among Canadians aged 40 years and older, by sex, 20042005 to 20132014

Indicator
67.8 40.3

Notes: Age-standardized estimates to the 2011 Canadian population. The 95% confidence interval shows an estimated range of values which is likely to include the true value 19 times out of 20. The 95% confidence intervals of the prevalence estimates are too small to be illustrated.Data source: Public Health Agency of Canada, using Canadian Chronic Disease Surveillance System data files contributed by provinces and territories, July 2017.

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Contact Our Information And Referral Helpline

The Parkinson Canada Information and Referral Helpline is a toll-free Canada-wide number for people living with Parkinsons, their caregivers and health care professionals. We provide free and confidential non-medical information and referral services. When you have questions or need assistance, our information and referral staff help connect you with resources and community programs and services that can help you. We provide help by phone or email, Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m. ET.

Find Additional Relief Or Assistance

My benefits were cut – despite my Parkinson’s

For additional payment assistance, consider the following:

  • Property tax relief. Some seniors can receive credits or exemptions on their property taxes depending on their state and income.
  • State assistance programs. Many state assistance programs exist. Whether you want to save money on medicine, housing, or other needs, search for ways to savenear you.
  • Nonprofits. Many local and national nonprofit organizations have missions based on supporting and paying for senior care.

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Groups For Care Partners

Care partners may also benefit from joining support groups. The Parkinsons Foundation notes that it is important for care partners to remember to care for themselves as well as their loved ones.

Care partner support groups can offer emotional support and practical advice for those caring for someone with Parkinsons disease. A person can ask a doctor about local support groups or search for them online.

Organizations and websites that offer support for care partners include:

  • The APDA: The APDA provides resources and support for care partners as well as people with Parkinsons disease.
  • The Parkinsons Foundation: This organization also provides information for caregivers.
  • The Family Caregiver Alliance: This organization provides services for caregivers and the people who receive their care. FCA CareNav is an online resource for family caregivers.

What Are My Rights And Obligations

According to the Civil Code of Quebec, you must provide work performance documentation, meaning the quantity and quality of the work for which you are paid.

Sharing your diagnosis with your employer and letting them know of your constraints throughout the progression of the diseases will help you find appropriate accommodations together.

You can take time off due to your disease, but you may have to provide a medical certificate to your employer to justify your absences.

Your employer must offer you reasonable accommodations so you can complete your work tasks without causing excessive constraint.

Every situation calls for different solutions. These may include:

  • Changing your work schedule
  • Taking time off for medical reasons
  • Arranging your workstation accordingly
  • Modifying your work tasks and duties

The acceptance of accommodation measures required varies according to several factors, including the nature of the business, its economic capacity, the activities it carries out, and the level of accommodation required.

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Social Security Disability Insurance

SSDI, often referred to as simply Disability, is assistance intended for those individuals who are of working age and cannot work as a direct result of their medical condition. The SSA does not provide care assistance but instead provides financial assistance that can be used for care. To be eligible one must both have a written diagnosis of Parkinsons Disease and have earned monthly income of less than approximately $1,000.

Managing Depression In Parkinsons Disease

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People with Parkinsons, family members and caregivers may not always recognize the signs of depression and anxiety. If you are experiencing depression as a symptom of Parkinsons, it is important to know it can be treated.

Here are some suggestions:

  • For information and support on living well with Parkinsons disease, contact our Information and Referral line.
  • As much as possible, remain socially engaged and physically active. Resist the urge to isolate yourself.
  • You may want to consult a psychologist and there are medications that help relieve depression in people with Parkinsons, including nortriptyline and citalopram .

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I Am Under 65 Years Old What Financial Aid Am I Entitled To

If you are still working, you may be eligible for sickness benefits from the federal government for a fixed amount of time.

If you are under 65 years old, you may be eligible for a disability pension and additional amount for disability from the provincial government. The federal government also offers a disability pension.

There are also other types of disability insurance, such as:

  • Those offered by the employers benefits package
  • Your own disability insurance
  • Your credit insurance benefits

Financial assistance is also available to help you with voluntary or early retirement.

Is The Decision Not To Use The Scheme Related To A Preference For Using Public Transport Or Is It Due To Other Factors

10. Under 10% of people with Parkinsons are eligible to apply for the Motability scheme currently. We believe that low income and poverty is a factor in people not leasing a Motability vehicle. If someone with Parkinsons is on the enhanced rate of PIP at £245 every 4 weeks and possibly on Universal Credit or Employment and Support Allowance at £73.10 per week, then their household income may not enable them to take advantage of the scheme. A Motability car might not be the priority, whereas paying utility bills and medication costs are likely to be prioritised above this expenditure.

11. Research conducted by Sheffield Hallam University showed that the additional cost of Parkinsons on a household is around £16,582 per year. This includes health and social care costs, potential loss of income from reduced hours or retirement. This additional cost of living with the condition shows that household income for those with the condition is squeezed. So while mobility is an important element to maintaining wellbeing, participating in the Motability scheme may not be viable due to the cost.

12. Also, some people with Parkinsons cannot drive, have had their licence removed or dont have someone who is able to drive them, so the Motability scheme isnt that useful for them.

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Facts About Parkinsons Disease

Parkinsons disease is considered by most to be a disease affecting mostly seniors, with onset averaging at around age 60. However, nearly 10 percent of the diagnoses of Parkinsons occur in people under the age of 40, and 20 percent are under age 50. While many of the symptoms will be the same, regardless of the age of onset, there are some differences with younger sufferers:

  • Dementia and Balance ProblemsThese are less likely among those with an earlier onset.
  • MedicationsThose with earlier onset are typically are more sensitive to the medication benefits used to treat Parkinsons.
  • Physical ComplaintsCramping or abnormal posture is more prevalent.
  • Work LifeOn average, those with earlier onset are able to function at work longer than those who acquire the disease later in life.

Reducing The Risk Of Getting Dementia

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Only 34% of UK adults think its possible to reduce their risk of dementia. Health and care professionals can promote evidence-based messages to middle-aged adults to help reduce their risk of getting dementia.

Working alongside other professionals and public health teams, health and care professionals can influence population-level impact by carrying out whole-system approaches to encourage people of all ages and stages of life to:

  • be more physically active
  • be socially active
  • control diabetes and high blood pressure

Smoking is one of the biggest risk factors for dementia and can double an individuals risk, because it causes narrowing of blood vessels in the heart and brain, and oxidative stress, which damages the brain.

The Lancet Commission on the Prevention and management of dementia: a priority for public health published in July 2017, identifies risk factors that, if eliminated, might prevent more than a third of cases of dementia. This report notes a link between hearing loss and the risk of developing dementia. Work is underway to understand more about this relationship and whether wearing hearing aids can reduce risk in people with hearing loss.

A report by the World Health Organization has also highlighted that engaging in the arts may help reduce the risk of cognitive decline.

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About Our Enabling Household

Alzheimers WA households have been developed using research evidence to ensure we can maximise the abilities of people with dementia, and enhance their sense of wellbeing.

The households operate much like a normal home, offering cooked meals, plenty of activities, as well as leisure outings. The private bedrooms can be personalised to help develop a sense of familiarity, and ensure our house guest is as comfortable as possible.

Tips For Everyday Care For People With Dementia

Early on in Alzheimers and related dementias, people experience changes in thinking, remembering, and reasoning in a way that affects daily life and activities. Eventually, people with these diseases will need more help with simple, everyday tasks. This may include bathing, grooming, and dressing. It may be upsetting to the person to need help with such personal activities. Here are a few tips to consider early on and as the disease progresses:

  • Try to keep a routine, such as bathing, dressing, and eating at the same time each day.
  • Help the person write down to-do lists, appointments, and events in a notebook or calendar.
  • Plan activities that the person enjoys and try to do them at the same time each day.
  • Consider a system or reminders for helping those who must take medications regularly.
  • When dressing or bathing, allow the person to do as much as possible.
  • Buy loose-fitting, comfortable, easy-to-use clothing, such as clothes with elastic waistbands, fabric fasteners, or large zipper pulls instead of shoelaces, buttons, or buckles.
  • Use a sturdy shower chair to support a person who is unsteady and to prevent falls. You can buy shower chairs at drug stores and medical supply stores.
  • Be gentle and respectful. Tell the person what you are going to do, step by step while you help them bathe or get dressed.
  • Serve meals in a consistent, familiar place and give the person enough time to eat.

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Professional Resources And Tools

Public Health Englands Health matters: midlife approaches to reduce dementia risk provides a resource for public health professionals, which brings together important facts, figures and evidence of effective interventions to address major public health problems.

A range of resources, training and guidance to deliver the dementia component of the NHS Health Check is available on the NHS Health Check website dementia training page. Resources include e-learning,videos and adaptable presentations for commissioners, providers and healthcare professionals.

Health Education England E-learning for Healthcare on dementia, covers all aspects of care for people living with dementia and their family members, from prevention and risk reduction to diagnosis through to bereavement.

A range of other Health Education England resources is available to develop the dementia workforce, including the Dementia Training Standards Framework..

Join Dementia Research has an e-learning tool to help healthcare professionals understand research involvement and enable them to empower people they talk to about the opportunities available through research.

The Alzheimers Societys Talking Point is an online discussion forum for anyone affected by dementia. You can ask for advice, share information, join in discussions and feel supported. This is a good place to get some qualitative feedback from service users.

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