A Guide to Helping Aging Adults Handle Parkinson’s Disease

By 9  am on

Parkinson’s disease can make everyday tasks more challenging for seniors, but they don’t have to resign themselves to a lower quality of life. Here are some of the ways you can help your elderly loved one handle the disease and accomplish some of these important tasks. 

Eating

The tremors and swallowing difficulties associated with Parkinson’s disease can make mealtimes a challenge. You can make it easier for your loved one to eat independently by providing: 

  • Placemats to prevent plates and cups from slipping
  • Plates with guards or raised lips to keep food from spilling and to make it easier to get food on the utensils
  • Cups with spill-proof lids, large handles, and straws

Many seniors in the early stages of Parkinson’s are able to live on their own, but they may need a bit of help with the everyday tasks of life, such as exercising and preparing nutritious meals. Aging adults who require assistance with the tasks of daily living can benefit from reliable home care service. Families trust Home Care Assistance to provide the high-quality care their elderly loved ones need and deserve. Our caregivers are trained to help seniors prevent serious illnesses and encourage them to make healthier decisions as they age.

Bathing

Encourage your loved one to use a shower chair to conserve energy and prevent fatigue. Purchase soap on a rope, sponges containing soap, or bath mitts to make it easier for your loved one to hold on to soap. Using a terry cloth robe to dry off instead of a towel can reduce fatigue and make it easier to get those hard-to-reach spots. 

Living with serious health conditions can make it challenging for seniors to age in place. However, they can maintain a higher quality of life with the help of professional live-in care. Montgomery seniors can benefit from assistance with meal prep, bathing, transportation to the doctor’s office, medication reminders, and much more.

Grooming and Toileting

Relying on others to help with highly personal activities like grooming and toileting can have a huge effect on the self-esteem of a senior with Parkinson’s. You can help your loved one accomplish these tasks independently by: 

  • Encouraging him or her to perform grooming activities while sitting to conserve energy
  • Purchasing combs, hairbrushes, and toothbrushes with built-up handles
  • Supplying a bedside commode or installing an elevated toilet seat with handrails in the bathroom to make it easier to stand from a seated position

Dressing

Tremors, muscle rigidity, and loss of dexterity can make dressing extremely difficult for seniors with Parkinson’s. The following clothing items and accessories can simplify the process for your loved one: 

  • Loose-fitting pants with elastic or drawstring waists
  • Shirts that wrap around or have large buttons, Velcro, or zippers
  • Shoes that slip on or fasten with Velcro
  • Shoehorns, dressing sticks, and button hooks

Caring for a loved one with Parkinson’s can be extremely challenging, and a compassionate professional caregiver can be a wonderful source of support. If your elderly loved one is living with a serious medical condition and needs help managing the tasks of daily living, reach out to Home Care Assistance, a Montgomery elder care agency you can trust. Our caregivers are available 24/7, there are no hidden fees in our contracts, and we offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee on all of our in-home care services. To create a comprehensive in-home care plan for your loved one, call us at (334) 593-3988 today.

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR BLOG


    Please prove you are human by selecting the star.

    Request Free Information or
    Schedule a Free in-Home Consultation