Community Resources
There are many community resources available to people living with Parkinson's disease and their families. These resources can provide information, support, and services to help people cope with the challenges of living with Parkinson's.
Some of the most common community resources for Parkinson's include:
-
Support groups: Support groups are a great way to connect with other people who are living with Parkinson's. These groups can provide a safe space to share experiences, learn about coping strategies, and build relationships.
-
Education and training: There are many educational and training programs available for people with Parkinson's and their caregivers. These programs can teach people about the disease, its symptoms, and treatment options. They can also provide training on how to manage the challenges of living with Parkinson's.
-
Social and recreational activities: There are many social and recreational activities available for people with Parkinson's. These activities can help people stay active, engaged, and connected to their community.
-
Financial assistance: There are many financial assistance programs available to help people with Parkinson's pay for the costs of treatment, medications, and other expenses.
The best way to find these resources is to talk to your doctor or a Parkinson's specialist. They can help you identify the resources that are right for you and your needs.
Here are some additional resources that may be helpful:
-
Parkinson's Foundation: The Parkinson's Foundation is a leading nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of people with Parkinson's disease. They offer a variety of resources and support services, including a helpline, online support groups, and educational programs.
-
American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA): APDA is another leading nonprofit organization that provides support and resources to people with Parkinson's disease and their families. They offer a variety of programs and services, including support groups, educational programs, and advocacy initiatives.
-
National Parkinson Foundation (NPF): NPF is a nonprofit organization that provides support and resources to people with Parkinson's disease and their families. They offer a variety of programs and services, including support groups, educational programs, and advocacy initiatives.
-
Parkinson's Disease Foundation International (PDFI): PDFI is a nonprofit organization that provides support and resources to people with Parkinson's disease and their families around the world. They offer a variety of programs and services, including support groups, educational programs, and advocacy initiatives.
Home Safety
1. Get Rid Of Possible Obstacles
First, you must get rid of all furniture and electronic devices with cords that might act as obstacles for the patient. All decor items such as side tables, stools, statues, and indoor plants must be placed in a manner that they don’t obstruct walking paths in the house . In addition, you must make sure that all essential furniture is secured, doesn’t swivel, and has comfortable armrests. Your home has to have ample lighting throughout the day, along with blinds to minimize glare.
2. Get A Bed With Adequate Height
Patients with Parkinson’s experience difficulty getting in and out of bed and make their way through stairs. Make sure that you install a bed that has a fairly low height, so that both the patient’s feet touch the ground when they are seated. Ideally, the height of the bed should be 22 inches, but you should also consider the height of the patient. In addition, position the bed along the wall, with rails attached to the sides of the bed, to help ease access to the bed. It is also advisable to locate the bedroom for Parkinson’s patients on the ground floor, so that they don’t have to cope with stairs.
3. Store Essentials In Easily Accessible Places
Parkinson’s affects patient motor abilities. Therefore, you must, set up storage spaces for essential elements such as medications and clothes, in places that are easily accessible for the patient. Make sure that you have open shelves or cabinets with handles, instead of knobs. Avoid cabinets and door fasteners that can make it more difficult for patients to access their contents. It is advisable to use plastic bowls instead of bone china or glass in the kitchen. In addition, use a single handle faucet for the sink so that the patient can easily operate it.
4. Install A Bedside Phone
You cannot rely on cellphones these days. They get discharged often, signals are not always available, and they can malfunction. You cannot have a lapse in the patient care because of a faulty cellphone. Make sure that you have a bedside phone in every room of your house that is easily accessible and has large buttons. You can also opt for a safety cord system or a personal touch pendant that send alerts to caregivers, in case of an emergency.
5. Tune Up The Bathroom
Bathrooms can often be a tricky utility for Parkinson’s patients. A bathroom with a wet floor, throw rugs, or bad lighting can increase the risk of the patient slipping and falling. Having ample lighting in the bathroom is therefore, essential. In addition, you must install various safety measures in the bathroom. The safety measures may include grab bars installed near the shower, bathtubs, and toilet, elevated toilet seats with arm rests, sturdy bench with back support in the shower, and a stable chair to aid doing tasks such as shaving and brushing their teeth.
Complete a home safety assessment
Additional Resources:
Meals on Wheels can provide a free home safety assessment
Room GPT - Redesign a room using AI
Travel & Adventure
Let us help you plan an assisted getaway.
MILD
STAGE 1 PARKINSON'S
ADVANCED
STAGE 5
PARKINSON'S
MODERATE
STAGE 2
PARKINSON'S
ADVANCED +
COMFORT CARE
MIDDLE
STAGE 3
PARKINSON'S
MIDDLE +
STAGE 4
PARKINSON'S
Michael J. Fox
“In the quest to cure Parkinson’s, we’re absolutely certain we are the tip of the spear.”
Muhammad Ali
“If my mind can conceive it, and my heart can believe it—then I can achieve it.”
The Parkinson's Foundation
The Parkinson’s Foundation makes life better for people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) by improving care and advancing research toward a cure. In everything we do, we build on the energy, experience and passion of our global Parkinson’s community.
The Michael J. Fox Foundation
The Michael J. Fox Foundation is dedicated to finding a cure for Parkinson's disease through an aggressively funded research agenda and to ensuring the development of improved therapies for those living with Parkinson's today.
The Caretology Foundation
We care deeply about the community and have taken leadership roles in community collaboration and student growth and development to build the capacity of local nonprofits and communities and support the next generation of student innovators.
Parkinson's Care Management Tools and Resources
