Parkinson's Disease is progressive and symptoms may come on in stages. Difficulties increase as the disease progresses. Learning how to continually adapt not only the home environment, but also daily living processes that take into consideration a gradual decline in health and abilities should be the main focus of caregivers.
Adapting the home environment to not only deal with the challenges that Parkinson's disease presents, but also to everyday routines easier– such eating, bathing, and dressing helps to lengthen quality of life.
The Living Environment
Living areas, kitchens, bedrooms and bathrooms need to be adapted to the special needs or increasing physical and cognitive difficulties of people afflicted with Parkinson's.
Considerations include the use of canes, walkers or wheelchairs to facilitate movement. Open pathways between rooms are important, as is the removal of obstacles, such as:
- Floor rugs - Thick floor rugs are more difficult to walk on than thin carpets or bare wood floors. People with Parkinson's typically develop a shuffling gait that leads to frequent trips or falls if care is not taken to remove such hazards from their environment. Floor rugs should be tacked down, and bare flooring should be cleaned with non-skid floor wax.
- Lamps - Standing lamps as well as table lamps should be placed so that they cannot be easily tipped over. Make sure the person seated in a wheelchair is able to reach lamp switches and cords without discomfort.
- Furniture - Furniture needs to be placed far enough apart to enable a wheelchair to have access in and around any room in the house. Most experts suggest that furniture items be placed roughly 5 1/2 feet apart from each other, which allows a wheelchair to perform a complete 360-degree circle without hitting any stationary object.
- Home decorations - Thresholds, as well as objects like floor vases, statuary, and side tables often prove difficult to navigate around. When possible, remove them.
Bathrooms
To help prevent accidents, install grab bars beside toilets, sinks, and in the tub or shower area depending on the need of each individual care receiver. In many cases, it is difficult for a person suffering from Parkinson's to negotiate a normal doorknob. Because of this, installations of door pulls or utility handles on doors throughout the home allow easier grasping.