5 Ways to Care for a Senior Parent with Parkinson’s

Parkinson’s is a progressive disease that may eventually require receiving help. If you’re taking on the role as your senior loved one’s carer, it’s normal to feel overwhelmed. Being a carer can have many challenges and rewards. Use these tips to help you as you care for your loved one.

1. Get Organised

Most seniors with Parkinson’s disease visit several different doctors, take a variety of medications, and meet regularly with different therapists. Additionally, you may also be responsible for managing issues with your loved one’s health insurance, personal matters, and finances. Get organised as soon as possible. Make a file that includes all your loved one’s information, which should include a copy of his or her driver’s license, insurance cards, medical releases, doctors’ names and numbers, and medications. Use a calendar app to schedule all your loved one’s appointments and share it with others who are helping with your loved one’s care so everyone knows what’s expected.

2. Communicate Now

As Parkinson’s disease progresses, your loved one may have a difficult time speaking and communicating his or her desires and needs. It’s important to talk about these issues now. Talk about finances, important documents, end-of-life concerns, and his or her wishes for care. Talking about it now can make difficult decisions easier when the time comes.

3. Do Your Research and Assemble a Team of Experts

Before caring for your loved one, take the time to research and learn everything you can about the disease. Understanding what Parkinson’s disease is, the different stages, and how it progresses can prepare you for changes in the future. If you haven’t already done so, assemble a team of experts to help with treating your loved one. Your loved one’s primary care doctor, neurologists, speech therapists, physical therapists, and occupational therapists can all help with managing the symptoms. Find specialists that both you and your loved one are comfortable with for the best care.

If you’re the primary family carer for a senior loved one living in Sydney, live-in care is available if your loved one’s health has become too difficult to manage without professional expertise. At Home Care Assistance, we take measures to help seniors prevent illness and injury by assisting with exercise and mobility, preparing nutritious meals, helping with bathing and other personal hygiene tasks, and much more.

4. Encourage Independence

One of the most difficult aspects of Parkinson’s disease is the feelings of helplessness your loved one may experience. These feelings can lead to depression and anxiety. Encouraging independence as the disease progresses may help your loved one maintain a sense of dignity and feel in charge of his or her life. Never talk down to your loved one or talk as if he or she isn’t there. Treating your loved one with respect can help him or her as the disease progresses.

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. Ageing adults who require assistance with the tasks of daily living can benefit from reliable senior care. Sydney, NSW, families trust Home Care Assistance to provide the high-quality care their elderly loved ones need and deserve. Our care workers are trained to help seniors prevent and manage serious illnesses and encourage them to make healthier decisions as they age.

5. Take Care of Yourself

Being a carer can be emotionally and physically exhausting. It’s important that you care properly for yourself so you can care for your loved one, which may mean finding a support group for carers, delegating tasks, asking other family and friends for help, or looking into respite care. Taking even a few hours for yourself can make a big difference.

Caring for a loved one with Parkinson’s can be extremely challenging, and a compassionate professional care worker 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 home care agency you can trust. Our care workers 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. Call Home Care Assistance at [hca_phone] to learn more about our flexible and customisable aged care plans.