Unrivalled Falls Prevention Programmes
In England alone, 30% of people over the age of 65 fall at least once a year and for those 80 and over it is 50%. By comparison, only 7% of our clients aged 65 and over fell at least once, and that was only 6% for those aged 80 or over.
Our clients are six times less likely to suffer a serious injury as a result of a fall than residents living in a residential care home. This is a result of our quality one-to-one care, which just cannot be achieved in even the very best care home, and our effective personalised falls management programmes.
Working with our in-house Occupational Therapist, we identify clients who are frequent fallers and through an intensive and personalised approach to falls management resulted in; 50% of our clients never falling again.
A Perfectly Matched Care Team
Our professional care teams are chosen carefully to meet both an individuals medical and holistic needs. Similar personalities and interests help the carer and the client form closer relationships, provide more enjoyment and significantly contribute to a better way of life. We also ensure the chosen live-in care team is introduced to you and your loved one before the care service starts. In the rare situation, the match does not work out, we will happily work with you to find a care team that does.
Reducing The Use Of Antipsychotic Medication For Those Living With Dementia
The use of antipsychotic medication to treat dementia symptoms has been increasingly challenged over the last ten years, as they have been shown to be harmful for people living with dementia and are at times prescribed unnecessarily. Through our approach to professional and specialist one-to-one care for those living with dementia, and the use of our market leading digital technology our clients are four times less likely to be prescribed antipsychotic medication than residents of care homes.
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Adapting To Life With Parkinsons
From the time of diagnosis, you and the person you care for will probably experience a range of emotions, such as, sadness, fear of the future or anger. Communicating well with each other so that you can each express your feelings or concerns will help you both to manage them and adjust to changes over time as Parkinsons progresses.
Initially you may not need to provide much physical support. Many people with Parkinsons remain independent for years. What your caring role involves will depend on how the condition affects the person you care for, the activities they do and what resources are available to help them.
One of the most important things you can do is to educate yourself and the person you care for about Parkinsons. It is an unpredictable condition but being aware of symptoms, treatment options, available resources and the likely progression will mean that you can anticipate and better prepare for physical and emotional difficulties as they arise. Make sure that you know how to get the help you need when the time arises.
Maintaining a positive attitude and a sense of humour will undoubtedly help you both to cope. Encourage as much independence as possible, allowing the person extra time to do things if necessary. Remember too that symptoms tend to fluctuate from day to day, and even hour to hour, so be flexible about how much support you need to give.
Advice For Care Partners
Being a care partner can sometimes be challenging, but having a care partner is essential to the well-being of every person with Parkinsons. Here are three areas to focus on as you adjust to your new role as a care partner while maintaining a healthy and supportive relationship with your loved one.
Managing Your Loved One’s Care
Even though care partners do not need special medical training, they play a central role in the medical care of people with PD. Accompany your loved one to doctor’s appointments, with their permission. You can offer an outside view on how the person with Parkinson’s has been doing in the interim since the last visit. You may also recognize new symptoms or subtle changes that the person with Parkinson’s doesn’t, such as changes in mood or behaviors, withdrawal from social interaction, or speech that has become softer or more monotone.
When you and your care partner attend appointments together, you both hear what the doctor has to say. You can compare notes afterword and together discuss management options offered. And, you can both be clear on the treatment plan.
Keeping track of all the details associated with medical care can be overwhelming. Here are some tips to help:
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Parkinson’s and Your Relationship
If you feel comfortable doing so, visit a counselor or therapist together or individually to work through the many changes and emotions you are experiencing and to learn how you can have a healthy and supportive relationship.
Caring for Yourself
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How Is Parkinsons Disease Treated
There is no cure for Parkinsons disease. However, medications and other treatments can help relieve some of your symptoms. Exercise can help your Parkinsons symptoms significantly. In addition, physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech-language therapy can help with walking and balance problems, eating and swallowing challenges and speech problems. Surgery is an option for some patients.
Effective Pressure Sore Management
Our high-quality home care provided by dedicated and professional carers has seen a staggering reduction in pressure sores in those we care for when compared to both hospital and care home settings. Comparative data shows that you are 13 times less likely to acquire a pressure sore in The Good Care Group’s care when compared to a hospital and 26 times less likely when compared to care home rates.
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Caring For Someone With Parkinsons
The impact of Parkinsons goes beyond the person who has been diagnosed with Parkinsons. Partners, family members and friends of the person who has been diagnosed with Parkinsons will be well aware of how challenging the condition can be for them and those closest to them.
A carer is a person who provides unpaid care and support for someone living with Parkinsons. Carers may be partners, relatives, friends or neighbours.;
People become carers for various different reasons. Many people become carers because they want to help a relative, friend or loved one. They might see it as a natural extension of their current relationship. Many carers feel that it is what they should do. For this reason, some people are reluctant to identify themselves as a carer.
The role of the carer is a very important one. It can be a very rewarding, but is also a challenging role.
This section covers:
Trained Experts In Parkinsons Disease Care
We understand the rough days when you shuffle more and cant stop the shaking. Our in-home care professionals know just when to nudge you through exercises, when to cook some meals ahead, or when to help you relax and talk through how youre really feeling about the limitations on your body. We notice the changes in posture and facial expression and help you make comfortable adjustments to maintain coordination and balance.
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Bathing And Personal Care Tips
For someone with Parkinsons disease, showering is typically preferred to taking baths because getting in and out of the tub becomes increasingly difficult. However, some people with PD may eventually experience changes in the brain that affect memory, judgement and focus. The Alzheimers Association estimates that 50 to 80 percent of Parkinsons patients experience these and other symptoms of dementia. Individuals living with Parkinsons disease dementia and Lewy body dementia may benefit from some adaptations, assistive devices and caregiving techniques that are used in dementia care.
For example, many dementia patients are confused or even frightened by the sound and feel of running water while showering. If your loved one requires assistance with bathing, be sure to give them time to adapt to the situation and understand what is happening. Gently talk them through the process, ensure they are warm and comfortable, and start by cleansing less sensitive areas of the body, such as the feet and hands, before proceeding to other areas.
Read:Bathing Tips and Techniques for Dementia Caregivers
How Do I Care For Someone With Parkinsons Disease
Parkinsons disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that demands proper care for the patient. Since it adversely affects the motor abilities of the patient, a caregiver is extremely important who can take care of the patient. The major aim of the caregiver should involve-
Quality of Life: The caregiver plays an important role in maintaining the quality of life of the patient with Parkinsons disease.
Appointments: The caregiver should be responsible for keeping a track of all the appointments with the doctor.
Medicines: The caregiver has to make a note of all the medications prescribed to the patient by the doctor and give him those medicines from time to time.
Exercise: The caregiver should be aware of the general health of the patient. The patient should have a balanced and healthy diet and exercise regularly. This should be checked by the person who takes care of the patient.
Knowledge: The caregiver should make attempts to educate himself about the signs and symptoms of the Parkinsons disease along with the treatment protocol and the progression of the disease.
Understanding: The love and care offered to the patient by the caregiver can help him deal better with the mental turmoil accompanying the Parkinsons disease.
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More Services Like Parkinsons Disease Care
My mums helper was hospitalised suddenly and I needed urgent help to take care of my mum who has advanced dementia. Homage was able able to find caregivers for my mum within a very short notice. The caregivers possessed the skill sets that I had requested and were of great help to me in my time of need. Thank you Homage!
Homage CP render their professional service to my dad who is a dialysis patient. CP assigned to wheel my dad to & fro from Dialysis Center within 300m walking distance. They are capable to load & unload my dad from wheelchair independently. They are friendly too. I’m looking forward to their next visit.
Had a good experience with Homage’s teleconsultation. The doctor is qualified, friendly and guided me on examination. She also explained my symptoms to me in detail, which is useful. The report provided has detailed information, and medicine was delivered to me on the same day even though my appointment was in the evening.
Response from Homage is fast. And the physiotherapist assigned is professional in assessing and guiding my mom in her session.
What Medications Are Used To Treat Parkinsons Disease
Medications are the main treatment method for patients with Parkinsons disease. Your doctor will work closely with you to develop a treatment plan best suited for you based on the severity of your disease at the time of diagnosis, side effects of the drug class and success or failure of symptom control of the medications you try.
Medications combat Parkinsons disease by:
- Helping nerve cells in the brain make dopamine.
- Mimicking the effects of dopamine in the brain.
- Blocking an enzyme that breaks down dopamine in the brain.
- Reducing some specific symptoms of Parkinsons disease.
Levodopa: Levodopa is a main treatment for the slowness of movement, tremor, and stiffness symptoms of Parkinsons disease. Nerve cells use levodopa to make dopamine, which replenishes the low amount found in the brain of persons with Parkinsons disease. Levodopa is usually taken with carbidopa to allow more levodopa to reach the brain and to prevent or reduce the nausea and vomiting, low blood pressure and other side effects of levodopa. Sinemet® is available in an immediate release formula and a long-acting, controlled release formula. Rytary® is a newer version of levodopa/carbidopa that is a longer-acting capsule. The newest addition is Inbrija®, which is inhaled levodopa. It is used by people already taking regular carbidopa/levodopa for when they have off episodes .
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A Care Partner’s Role
When a person is diagnosed with Parkinsons disease , someone who is close them whether their spouse, child, parent or friend usually becomes their primary care partner.
Care partners take on many responsibilities, from accompanying a loved one to doctor appointments to managing more household responsibilities. For the most part, care partners do not need special medical training. Whats important is establishing a partnership a mutual understanding of what kind of help with daily tasks and emotional support the person with Parkinsons wants and needs as the disease impacts your routines and lives.
Its essential, too, for care partners to take care of themselves. Parkinsons progresses slowly, and the role of the care partner can last for decades. Care partners need to take time out to renew their energy and stay healthy.
In our free guide;You, Your Loved One and Parkinson’s Disease,;Lonnie Ali, wife of Muhammad Ali and member of The Michael J. Fox Foundation Founders Council, offers guidance for fellow Parkinson’s disease caregivers.
Stay At Home With High Qualityparkinsons Care
Receiving compassionate care in the comfort, safety and familiarity of your own home has far reaching benefits in improving overall health and wellbeing for a person living with Parkinsons, as opposed to moving into a care home.
Moving at any stage in life can be disruptive and stressful, and so much more so when faced with a diagnosis of a condition like Parkinsons. We know that staying at home and receiving compassionate, one-to-one care from a highly trained and well-matched professional carer improves quality of life for an individual living with Parkinsons disease. Our personalised approach to providing high quality Parkinsons disease home care, with a fully managed and flexible service that families can rely on is setting the standards in live in care for thosewith Parkinsons.
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Impulsive And Compulsive Behaviour
Some patients who take dopamine agonists can experience problems controlling impulsive or compulsive behaviour .
Impulsive behaviour refers to the inability of patients to resist carrying out certain activities, some of these activities could be harmful to themselves or others. In many cases, this behaviour is out of character.
Compulsive behaviour refers to an overwhelming urge to act in a certain way to reduce the worry or tension this urge produces. This behaviour can be expressed in a number of ways, including addictive gambling, impulsive shopping, binge eating and hypersexuality.
Nurses who suspect a patient might be experiencing compulsive or impulsive behaviour should discuss the issue with the patient and the patients neurologist or GP as soon as possible.
How Can I Help Manage My Loved Ones Care
A spouse, adult child or other family members can play a significant role in helping a person with Parkinsons disease stay organised and receive the best care possible.
- Find a movement disorder specialist. A movement disorder specialist is a neurologist with additional training in Parkinsons disease. This specialised doctor is generally on the cutting edge of Parkinsons disease care and can help your loved one build a plan that works best for them.
- Attend doctors appointments with your loved one. Doctors appointments can be overwhelming, and its helpful to have another person along to listen and take notes. A partner may also have a better sense of whether mood symptoms like depression and apathy are a concern. Take a list of questions with you to help guide the appointment and ensure you get all the information you need.
- Stay organised with a calendar that you can take to doctor visits. Note doctor and therapy appointments, the start and stop dates of medicines, and any side effects you may notice.
- Keep a list of all doctors phone numbers and addresses in case of an emergency. Also keep a separate and updated list of all prescription medications, their dosages and instructions and the prescribing provider. Note allergies or medication intolerances as well.
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Ensuring Safe Mobility In And Around The Home
We have an in-house Occupational Therapist, Jackie Cooper who will provide expert guidance and advice as to what equipment can improve safe movement and mobility around your home, whilst minimising falls. Jackie is well placed to provide advice and recommendations as to any home adaptations that may make life easier.
Eating With Parkinsons Disease
Specially designed eating utensils for Parkinsons patients feature padded or built-up handles to help facilitate the eating process. Individuals who have difficulty controlling the fine motor skills necessary for eating and drinking may also benefit from weighted utensils and cups. Knives with a curved blade can allow PD patients to cut their own food with a rocking motion instead of the traditional sawing motion that may be more challenging. Serving meals in bowls or on plates with high lips or sides can make it much easier for patients to scoop food onto utensils and encourages self-feeding. Dishware with non-skid rubber bottoms can be helpful as well.
Read:Dysphagia: How to Help a Loved One Eat and Drink Safely
Prescription medications may also cause side effects like dry mouth, so it is very important to always encourage your loved one to sip on liquids during meals and throughout the day. This will help facilitate eating and swallowing and ensure they stay hydrated.
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Parkinson’s Care At Home
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At The Good Care Group, we have been supporting people to live a purposeful and meaningful life with Parkinsons disease for over 10 years. We know how worrying it can be for families when faced with the reality that a loved one is living with the condition. However, a Parkinsons diagnosis does not mean you cannot live well with the disease, maintaining as much independence as possible with the right level of care and support.