Parkinson's Care
A caregiver at EPHC Nursing Agency can assist your senior parent with all activities of daily living while tackling the challenges of Parkinson’s disease, and doing all that we can to improve their quality of life. We can empathize with the daily struggles those diagnosed with this condition can have, and will do what we can to provide support so more joy can be felt every day.
If you hire a caregiver at EPHC for Parkinson’s care, a couple of things we may focus on is ensuring your senior loved one takes his or her medication on-time and practices exercise if possible for stress reduction.
The Importance of Medication and Parkinson’s
If your senior parent has Parkinson’s, getting them to take their medication may be a challenge. Parkinson patients may feel too confused to take their medication, or worry about potential side effects. This can be a very frustrating ordeal. However, it is imperative that Parkinson’s medication is taken timely and regularly. If not, symptoms may return and it can take a long time to recover from the setback.
Here are a few ways that we may gently coax your parent to take his or her medicine:
Find Out About the Side Effects of the Medication
It’s possible that your parent experiences unpleasant side effects from the medication, but isn’t able to tell you this. We can provide education about the possible side effects of the medication. Your parent’s doctor may be able to give suggestions on how to reduce these side effects. For example, if a common side effect is nausea, you may want to give your parent the medication with food.
Make the Medication Easier to Take
If the pills your parent has to take are large and difficult to swallow, he or she may be reluctant to take them. We may inquire about asking your parent’s doctor if it’s okay to crush the pills and then put them in applesauce or other food. If we can break the pill into smaller pieces, your senior parent may not even notice he or she is taking medicine.
Give the Medication in a Calm Environment
It’s important to give an elderly person with Parkinson’s his or her medication in a calm environment. If there’s noise from the TV or other people in the room, it can make the entire situation more stressful. If you have tried to give the medicine before without success and got angry or frustrated, your parent may have sensed this and now is anxious when taking it.
Stick to a Regular Schedule
Parkinson’s patients respond well to routines. If an EPHC caregiver gives your parent medication at the same time every day, he or she is more likely to cooperate. We can try to establish a regular schedule for medicine for when your parent tends to be in his or her best mood.
Offer a Treat
Offering a reward for taking medication may work well with Parkinson’s patients. As an example, with yours and a doctor’s permission, we can give your parents a small piece of candy after the medication. This can give your senior parent something to look forward to.
Be Patient
We understand that there may have been days when nothing you said or did convinced your senior parent to take his or her Parkinson’s medication. If this occurs, stay calm and leave your parent be for a little while. Then, come back about 20 or so minutes later and try to administer the medication again. Or, you can hire a caregiver from EPHC Nursing Agency for medication help. Either way, be patient.
Practice Exercise
Exercise helps manage Parkinson’s disease. Regular exercise, along with physical and occupational therapy, can help maximize someone’s fitness, mobility, and ability to continue their daily routines after they’re diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Helping them function at the optimum level now may offset some of the physical limitations that can develop later. EPHC caregivers can help your senior parent understand why exercise is so important, and find ways to fit exercise comfortably into their life.
Hire an In-Home Nurse
If you aren’t able to administer Parkinson’s medication to your senior parent every day, you should think about hiring an in-home nurse from EPHC. He or she can come to your parent’s home every day and make sure that your parent takes the medication properly.
If you need assistance taking care of your parent with Parkinson’s, consider hiring an in-home nurse for not only medication support, but hourly visits or 24/7 care if needed. Please contact us today at EPHC Nursing Agency, as we would love to find out more about how we can help your senior loved one with Parkinson’s live the best life possible.
