Parkinson’s is not easy to be dealt with. The best of the Parkinson’s disease specialist cannot avoid you from facing some of the difficulties. Becoming disabled from being normal is the biggest challenge that a PD patient has to encounter. Yet, there are ways you can address them.
Traveling:
Travelling can be fun for PD patients too. Plan for a short trip that helps you enjoy more. Make sure you carry all the medications along with the prescription and the name of the doctor written on it. Request for a wheelchair assistance at terminals and for an aisle seat during the flight. Carry your aware in Care Parkinson's ID bracelet and wallet card.
Rest and sleep:
Resting is an important activity. Avoid fluids few hours before you go to bed. Sleep only you are feeling sleepy. Differentiate between fatigue and drowsiness. If you are unable to sleep then wake up and listen to some music.
Bathing, grooming, and toileting:
Install two handrails to the bathroom to make it easy for them to walk. Make a shelf from where they are comfortable in accessing it. Use pump soaps to avoid slipping from your hands. Also install a tub rail for a bathtub or a handheld shower head if you are used to a shower chair. Keep the water temperature to less than 120degrees so that you don’t get burnt before you could act. Use a rubber mat to avoid slipping.
Tremors make it difficult to brush. Use electric razors, hairdryers and toothbrushes. Rest your elbows on the shelves when you cannot bear the pain in your shoulders.
Visit the toilet every two hours and wait until your bladder is empty. Avoid fluid intake in the evening if it wakes you up in the night.Use an incontinence product Iike a pad ifyou are afraid of falling.
Increasing your mobility confidence:
Gardening, washing the car or watering the plants can make the hands and limbs active. At later stags when walking becomes really difficult you can opt for a laser cane with a triangular tip as it holds your balance.
When buying a wheelchair, talk to your healthcare professional at your best hospital for Parkinson’s disease as investing on a wheelchair can be very expensive.
Driving:
Driving becomes difficult for PD patients because of the decreasing strength in hands and limbs. But with exercises and drugs symptoms can be improved and driving can be resumed with caution.
To ensure safety while driving - drive when you are on medicines, take safe routes, drive in non-peak hours, follow GPS, do not use mobile or listen to radio while driving, avoid night driving.
Getting dressed:
Getting dressed can be a very difficult task. Choose a fabric that’s comfortable for him to move around. Give him a choice and allow him to participate in getting dressed. Let the difficult arm or the legs to slide in first and then the latter one. Choose strappy shoes so that it’s easy to wear.Show love and care and do not get infuriated.