Right at Home Mitcham Streatham and Dulwich – Helping those living with Parkinson’s

Right at Home, Mitcham Streatham & Dulwich have 5 years of experience in homecare with expert CareGivers experienced in providing care for those living with Parkinson’s. 

The needs of each person with Parkinson’s are different, so we take time and care to create a detailed personalised care plan for every Client.

What is Parkinson’s disease?

Parkinson’s is a progressive neurological condition. This means it causes problems in the brain and sadly gets worse over time.  As the condition progresses, the brain loses its ability to control certain functions, such as moving about. 

Parkinson’s is the fastest growing neurological condition in the world (source: Parkinson’s UK).  1 in 500 people are affected and most people start to develop symptoms when over the age of 50 (source: NHS).

Many people don’t realise the Parkinson’s is a serious condition with limited treatment no cure.

Parkinson’s is the second most common neurodegenerative disease, after Alzheimer's.

Those with Parkinson’s gradually lose their ability to produce DOPAMINE.  DOPAMINE allows messages to be sent to and from the parts of the brain that co-ordinate movement.

No one knows what causes Parkinson’s.  It appears to be due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors. 

The disease is more common in men and most likely to be diagnosed in those over 60. 

It seems to effect white people more than non-whites and there is evidence that those who live in rural areas have higher risk of contracting the disease than those living in urban areas.   

Famous people who had or have Parkinson’s include Muhammed Ali, Billy Connelly, Ozzie Osborne, Michael J Fox and Neil Diamond.

5 Stages of Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s disease can be hard to diagnose, especially the early signs.  Some people notice that their arms don’t swing like they used to when they walk.  Sometimes stiffness goes away as you move. If it does not, it can be a sign of Parkinson's disease.  An early sign might be stiffness or pain in your shoulder or hips. People sometimes say their feet seem “stuck to the floor.” 

There are three main symptoms to look out for:

• Tremor/ shaking
• Slow movement
• Stiff and inflexible muscles

Other symptoms may include:

• Pain
• Sleeping problems
• Memory loss
• Mental health problems such as anxiety and depression

Always see your GP as soon as possible if you are worried about yourself or a loved one.  For more on early signs see this link: 10 Early Signs of Parkinson’s Disease.

What to remember when caring/supporting a loved one living with Parkinson’s disease

Caring for a loved one diagnosed with Parkinson’s can be daunting.  As a first step it helps to read up and learn more about the condition and best ways to support your loved one.

Keep regular appointments with your doctor

It can be difficult to find the correct dosage and combination of medication because the condition is so different in each person, so a good relationship with your GP is vital. 

Managing Parkinson’s is about more than medication

The symptoms caused by Parkinson’s can be managed through a combination of medication and other practical steps such as:

• Doing 2.5 hours of exercise per week can slow symptoms (Parkinson’s UK)
• Maintaining a healthy diet; and
• Making sure they maintain activities they enjoy to look after their mental health

Emotional Support is just as important as managing physical symptoms

It’s not uncommon for Parkinson’s to have an impact on mental and emotional health, as anxiety and depression can go hand-in-hand with memory loss or insomnia.   Providing emotional support for a loved one living with mental health problems can be challenging.  Speak to your GP as regards what support and advice is available through your local NHS.

Find someone you can talk to

Discover a local support group for other people caring for people with Parkinson’s who understand what you’re going through and can offer advice.  It is amazing how much knowledge and comfort can be gained through sharing with others the difficulties faced.

Also speak to Right at Home to find out how our CareGivers can alleviate some of the pressure through “respite care”.

Look after yourself

Caring for your loved one is a full-time responsibility and there are often no breaks in between.  Time off can help you rest and reconnect with friends and family while a respite carer supports your loved one.

How Right at Home Mitcham Streatham and Dulwich can help

Caring for a family member can be a huge responsibility and affect relationships.  Right at Home can alleviate some of the pressure in a number of ways through the flexible, tailored services we offer.  This can include companionship, personal care, shopping, light housework, day trips, cooking, hospital visits and much more.      

Lots of people living with Parkinson’s continue to live “normal” lives, but we can help to make it as manageable as possible through our reliable, trustworthy team of CareGivers who take great pride in doing their very best for every client every visit.

Personalised Care Plans

We carefully assess every Client to understand their needs.  We listen to their preferences and concerns to work out how we can best support the Client.  The client’s partner, close relatives and or next of kin are closely involved in this process.  Once complete we match CareGivers to Clients based on languages, expertise, interests, and personality. 

We will also recommend a plan to help each Client achieve their goals.  These goals (outcomes) create a focus for all those involved in supporting the Client, providing a sense of purpose and teamwork.

Other elements of our service may include:

• Supporting the Client to continue enjoying their hobbies and interests.
• Supporting Clients coming to terms with a diagnosis.
• Supporting in understanding and managing the effects on their independence.
• Assist with GP appointments - many people living with Parkinson’s struggle to find the correct medication dosages and need help from their GP.
• Prompting to take or administering medication.
• Light household tasks like dusting, changing bedding, vacuuming, shopping, and food preparation.
• Assistance with washing, dressing, eating, and toileting when symptoms are worse and affect these abilities.

Our CareGivers understand the unique physical, mental, and emotional challenges faced by those with Parkinson's. Many people who live with Parkinson’s can have a normal life expectancy thanks to advances in treatment.  While there is no cure, at Right at Home, we know that support for someone living with Parkinson’s is vital and can help them live their best possible life. Contact us on 020 8004 9644 to speak to one of our experts and learn more about the help that Right at Home can provide.  You can also email our Managing Director via tracey.scott@rightathome.co.uk.