Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Elder Care In Asheville - Prognosis for Parkinson's Disease

By Jim Smeaton
Elder care in Asheville often deals with Parkinson's disease, a progressive condition that affects the brain. Over time, it` causes tremors, mobility challenges, and difficulty moving and maintaining coordination. For this reason, it is important for caregivers to plan ahead when providing elder care for individuals who have this illness.

Understanding the Life of an Individual with Parkinson's Disease
The first thing that caregivers need to remember when looking ahead is that Parkinson's disease is progressive. This means that it gets worse over time. Each individual experiences the condition in a different way, meaning that it intensifies in some cases very quickly and more slowly in others. While there is no way to pinpoint exactly how the illness will unfold, it is essential that individuals who are providing home care for seniors with this condition understand that it will, in time, get worse.

Treatment Options: Managing the Disease
While there is no known cure for Parkinson's disease as of yet, caregivers should stay optimistic. Many treatment options have been devised to improve the quality of life that individuals who have this condition experience. Through these treatment plans, people with Parkinson's disease are able to manage their symptoms and continue to live their lives to the fullest.

Maintaining communication with healthcare professionals is important for caregivers who are looking ahead. If an elderly individual's condition worsens, caregivers need to know when to institute a higher degree of assistance.

Planning for the Unforeseeable
It may seem counterintuitive to plan ahead when doctors cannot pinpoint the challenges that a patient with Parkinson's disease will encounter. While there is no way to create concrete care plans, caregivers can devise flexible reaction plans to events that may unfold. For instance, individuals can start researching the symptoms of Parkinson's disease and determine at which stage they will need to call in home care professionals. Likewise, they can speak with their senior and the rest of their family to determine when to look at nursing homes or assisted living facilities.

The prognosis of Parkinson's disease is difficult to pinpoint, as it progresses at a different rate for each person. However, understanding the challenges that the disease may present will allow caregivers to plan ahead and, ultimately, provide better support to loved ones.


We have many videos available to you regarding senior issues, view them here.

Finding the right care is not an easy decision to make, so we have put together an E-booklet filled with tips, advice, and general information so that you are well informed.

If you are interested in learning more about Alzheimer's, dementia and elder care, contact Jim Smeaton  and the professionals at Always Best Care of Western North Carolina at (828) 989-7263 or visit their website.

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