AdvancedStage Parkinson's
Not everyone reaches the advanced stage in Parkinson’s disease. Sometimes people with Parkinson’s (PwPs) can remain at one stage for years. However some PwPs’ symptoms may progress and there may come a time when the symptoms become more profound and severe, and the medication may not be as effective in controlling the symptoms as before. Certain symptoms like poor balance, difficulty walking and fear of falling may prevent you from being able to leave your house or your bed without
assistance. Major cognitive decline in the form of personality changes and dementia may occur. Assistance may be needed to continue routine activities like dressing, eating, bathing etc. At such times frustration and impatience may build up for you and your caregivers, but it is important to remain calm to be able to focus on what you can do and keep trying. Help and support is available.
The following are a few pointers to help you:
Well-being:
- Being active: Try to stay as active as you can to prevent stiffness from setting in.Continue to do even the smallest of the daily activities that you can even if it takes a very long time. There are specific exercises and activities you can do while sitting in a chair or at your bed. An occupational therapist can help you modify your objects of daily use such as spoons, toothbrush, hairbrush etc. as well as certain daily activities
so that you can carry them out with more ease.
Everyday life:
- Assistance: As Parkinson’s progresses, swallowing difficulties may occur such as choking when eating or drinking. Consult a doctor immediately if this is happening. A speech and swallowing expert will help you with techniques to aid swallowing. A nutritionist will assist you with modifications in food textures, consistency, timing and scheduling of food/fluid intake to prevent swallowing difficulties. This will also help with any bladder and bowel impairments such as constipation or increased urinary frequency that may develop.If you are experiencing mood swings, personality changes or severe cognitive decline, seeking help from a mental health professional such as a Neuropsychologist or Clinical Psychologist will help you manage the changes better.If standing and walking is becoming very difficult even with assistance and accompanied with a number of falls due to imbalance, then you have to start being extremely careful. A fall can lead to bone fractures and further deteriorate your health condition. Use a walking or mobility aid such as a walker or a wheelchair under the guidance of a Physiotherapist and make sure assistance and supervision is present during all mobility tasks.
- Exercise: Increasing rigidity and slowness of movements may affect your ability to exercise, but try as much as you can. A physiotherapist will guide you with the right kind of exercise plan. You may have to do chair- based exercises or bed exercises to keep your muscles strong and reduce stiffness. A daily exercise routine will help to keep the secondary complications of inactivity such as bedsores or chest problems away.To continue exercising your memory, activities such as looking through old photo albums with family and friends, telling ‘remember when..’ stories, re-reading old letters and cards or listening to favorite old songs and watching old movies will help to stimulate cognition in a meaningful way.
A combination of simple daily physical and mental exercises with assistance will help to maintain mind and body health.
