People living with Parkinson’s disease often need to rely on carers for support with everyday activities. For example, they may require assistance with going to doctor’s appointments and may also need help in getting dressed. With the continued development of the illness, dependency on the carer will likely increase significantly. For the safety of the person with the condition, it becomes essential for the carer to recognise this, and extend any help required.
Below are several different ways how someone can improve their role as a carer for an elderly person diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
Be Involved
A person caring for a senior will need to be engaged more.
For the person with the illness, it may not be possible to give all the crucial details that they are experiencing due to the disease. As a carer, you can share the information which will help a doctor understand the development of the disease. It will also aid in creating medication options for both the present and future requirements. If there are any side effects, the doctor will be aware.
Due to the illness, the patient’s recall may not be working optimally, so, you need to speak up during the appointments to provide the essential information.
Find a Support Group
A support group can assist you in staying calm even during challenging times. Caring for an elder living with Parkinson’s disease is not an easy job, and it may adversely affect your mood.
You are required to give both emotional and physical care to the senior suffering from Parkinson’s, and that care can be very demanding sometimes.
Balancing your personal life and caregiving can become difficult and lead to burnout. In such circumstances, support groups can play essential roles in rebuilding the balance in the lives of carers.
Form a Team
You will need to establish a team to give the required help and support; this is for appropriate care of a patient who has Parkinson’s disease. Family, neighbours, friends, and other relatives may show interest in extending their help in caring for the aged person.
You, as a carer, need to talk to them to let them know how best to support you. You also ought to keep a handy list of persons you can call in urgent situations.
Help from other people (relatives or friends), may come in different forms, like grocery shopping, picking up children from school, and others. Some people may also openly offer essential care for the senior.
Ask For Professional Support
Caring for the patient may become more challenging and stressful in the later stages of Parkinson’s. At such times, you can continuously ask for professional assistance or support; there are trained professionals who are available. These professionals are well-equipped to manage specific symptoms and side effects of the disease.
Additionally, there are nurses and carers from home care service providers offering personal care, respite and clinical services. Some symptoms and side effects of the disease include problems with balancing or walking, delusions or hallucinations, severe depression, and dementia. These symptoms are better handled with help from professionals, which also means better care for the patient.
One of our priorities at The CareSide is to ensure that your senior loved ones and their carers are well taken care of and well-informed about the different challenges in coping with and managing such illnesses. The home care support we provide at The CareSide helps not only the recipient but also their carers.
If you have any questions about home nursing services or aged care, explore our site or contact our friendly team on 1300 85 40 80.
