assisted living for both parents

Posted on: 10 May 2023

Parkinson's disease is a neurological disorder that can cause various signs and symptoms including tremors of the head and limbs, an abnormal gait called cogwheel rigidity, vision problems, mood disorders, and swallowing difficulties. In the beginning stages of Parkinson's disease, your senior loved one may still have the physical and cognitive abilities to live independently, but as the disease progresses, they may be unable to care for themselves at home. If you choose to relocate your loved one to an assisted living facility because of Parkinson's disease, here are some interventions that can be expected by the staff to help enhance the resident's health and well-being.

Physical Rehabilitation

The physical rehabilitation staff at the assisted living facility can work with your loved one to help enhance their balance, strength, and posture so that they may be less likely to fall as a result of tremors or cogwheel rigidity. If needed, the physical rehabilitation staff member will use a gait belt so that your loved one feels more secure when walking.

A gait belt is a device that is worn like a belt by the patient during physical rehabilitation. The staff member can hold on to the back of the belt while it is worn by the individual to help enhance stability and balance. This will help promote self-confidence and reduce the fear of falling so that the resident can reach their therapeutic goals.

Swallowing Evaluation

Because Parkinson's disease can affect the back of the throat and swallowing muscles, patients are at risk for choking. Your loved one can get a speech evaluation at the assisted living facility to assess their swallowing ability and determine if they are at risk for choking or aspiration pneumonia. This type of pneumonia develops when the person aspirates foods or liquids into the airway instead of swallowing them into the esophagus.

When food and liquids are aspirated into the lungs, infection-causing bacteria and fungi can grow, leading to respiratory illnesses such as pneumonia. If the resident is at risk for choking, their attending physician may recommend that they eat a mechanically altered diet such as one consisting of chopped or pureed foods, which may help reduce the risk of choking.

If your loved one has Parkinson's disease and can no longer live independently in their home, contact an assisted living facility to learn more about its services. Once the senior individual is receiving the care and therapeutic interventions they need, they may be better able to cope with their Parkinson's disease so they can enjoy more activities and socialize with other residents of the assisted living community.