An estimated 50,000 adults in this country are diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease (PD) each year. What is different with PD than other chronic health conditions is that it often strikes when people are in the prime of their life. Adults with the disease frequently have young children at home and a full-time career.
Understanding Parkinson’s Disease
While most people have heard of Parkinson’s, how challenging the disease can be isn’t as widely understood. PD is a neurodegenerative disease that results when the body ceases to produce the amount of dopamine it needs. Dopamine is a chemical our body requires to swiftly and smoothly relay messages back and forth between the brain and the body. That relay is necessary for smooth muscle movements.
When the body doesn’t have the necessary amount of dopamine, a person has difficulty initiating and controlling movement. Common symptoms that result include:
- Stiffened muscles
- Hand tremors
- Difficulty walking
- Speech problems
Each of these symptoms makes maintaining an independent lifestyle challenging.
North Texas Assisted Living for Adults with Parkinson’s Disease
Because people with PD are often younger than adults who live with other chronic health conditions, the impact on the entire family can be significant. A typical Parkinson’s caregiver juggles the needs of young children and a career with the physical demands of caregiving. It puts the family caregivers at high risk for burnout.
Many assisted living communities in the Dallas and Fort Worth areas can help by providing families with both short-term and long-term solutions for a loved one with Parkinson’s disease.
In the early stages of the disease, family caregivers can use an assisted living community’s respite care services. It will allow caregiver to take a time out from caregiving to rest and renew. The adult with Parkinson’s can stay for a few days or a few weeks. As the disease progresses and more support is required, an assisted living community can become a permanent solution.
North Texas families who have a loved one living with Parkinson’s may find an assisted living community offers the best of both worlds. Each resident has their own private apartment or suite that allows them to maintain their independence and privacy, but with professional caregivers nearby around the clock for the times when help is needed.
How Assisted Living Helps Adults with Parkinson’s Disease
The support an assisted living community in the Dallas- Fort Worth areas can offer to someone with Parkinson’s disease includes:
- Nutritious, well-balanced meals and dining support, if needed
- Medication management to ensure the right amount of medicine is taken at the right time
- Help with personal care and personal hygiene
- Laundry, housekeeping and maintenance services
- Opportunity to participate in life enrichment activities and outings
- Transportation to physician visits and other necessary appointments
For assistance finding respite care or long-term care for a senior in north Texas who has Parkinson’s disease, please Contact Us. We have helped hundreds of families find care they can count on for a loved one.
Senior Living Specialists is a free service for seniors and their families. We are compensated by a referral fee when a senior moves into a community or care home. Call us today at 214-929-5055 to learn more.
