For a person with Parkinson's disease, a daily massage feels wonderful, and not only helps to relieve spasms, tremors and cramps, but may provide a great sense of relief at the end of the day, or even several times a day. Heating pads help to relieve aching muscles, and mineral ice does wonders for stiff joints.
Encourage your loved on to squeeze a rubber ball for short periods of time throughout the day to help reduce tremors and to keep hands and fingers strong and supple. Encourage exercise to whatever degree your loved one can accomplish to help keep muscles, tendons and joints strong for as long as possible.
Eating
Specially designed eating utensils with padded or built-up handles help facilitate the eating process. Depending on the severity of the condition, caregivers may place food within reach, or help feed the person. This process should not be rushed. Generally, it may take anywhere from a half an hour to 45 minutes or more for someone to finish their meal. People with Parkinson's may experience difficulties with eating, such as excessive chewing or swallowing and difficulty chewing. In some cases, it may be necessary to purée foods or to make sure they are finely chopped in order to facilitate eating. In some cases, food may need to be placed in bowls, rather than served on a plate, which makes it much easier for patients to scoop food.
Medications may cause a dry mouth, so it is very important to always encourage adequate sipping of liquids while eating as well as throughout the day. As the disease progresses, patients often choke or cough while eating and drinking. Drooling is often a sign of a decrease in the swallowing reflex, and special attention and care should be taken to ensure the safety of the loved one while eating. At this stage, a caregiver should be present during all meals.
Cognitive Changes
Because cognitive changes and behaviors are often experienced in the later stages of Parkinson's disease, caregivers need to increasingly avoid over-stimulation as well as to break tasks down into manageable parts. While encouraging the person to remain as independent as possible, increased attention needs to be focused on safety as well as making daily living needs easier on the person who has Parkinson's.
As the disease progresses, communication may become more difficult. Continue to encourage communication, and allow more time for response as well as verbalized requests from your loved one.
Caregivers have the ability to make life much easier for many suffering from Parkinson's disease. An educated caregiver knows enough about Parkinson's not to expect too much from a loved one, and to know where the boundaries lie between what they can or can't do during various stages of the disease process. By planning ahead, a caregiver may be able to anticipate problems or issues before they negatively affect a loved one.
Denise Clark has written about health and medical issues, including caring for seniors. She has experience as a certified nursing assistant who has worked a long-term care facility for geriatric residents.