MIDDLE STAGE PARKINSON’S
The progressive nature of Parkinson’s disease may cause the symptoms to increase in
severity and affect balance, walking patterns, speech quality and interfere with your daily activities such as eating, dressing, writing and others.
Mild to moderate cognitive decline may occur and alter your attention and decision making during everyday tasks. You may experience more frequent memory lapses, trouble multi- tasking and difficulty in organizing, planning and scheduling efficiently. Symptoms of anxiety, hallucinations, fluctuations in on-off periods, fatigue and impulse control disorders may also be seen.
To cope with these changes, your daily routine may require some modifications.
The following are a few pointers to help you:
Well Being
Regular health check-ups with the doctor: As symptoms may change over time, it is important to visit your doctor every six months to assess any developments that may have occurred in your symptoms. In addition, getting your overall health checked regularly is also important.
Socializing: At times, with Parkinson’s, socializing may not feel enjoyable due to the changes brought about by the condition. However, just because you have Parkinson’s, does not mean that you must refrain from meeting and interacting with people. Staying connected with others will keep you occupied and active, decrease feelings of loneliness and distract you from the immediate problems related to the condition.
Ask for help: Sometimes symptoms of poor balance and walking difficulties may cause severe instability and lead to falls, or, severe hand tremors may cause eating difficulties. At such times, it is always recommended to ask for help with any activities that are becoming too difficult for you. There is nothing wrong in asking for help. Try to be as independent as possible but ask for help when necessary. Safety should be of utmost importance. A strong and healthy communication with your loved ones and caregivers will help you to find solutions for everyday activities.
Everyday Life:
Exercise: As your symptoms may progress, you should choose exercises that take effort and push you beyond your comfort level. Start slower but make sure you try to build on your strength and endurance gradually. Rigidity, imbalance and slowness of movements may affect your ability to exercise, but you should keep trying. You may have to exercise in modified positions such as chair- based exercises or exercises while holding something sturdy for support to help you maintain stability and balance during your exercise routine. A physiotherapist will guide you with the right kind of exercise plan.
Perform exercises that specifically target your symptoms like balance exercises for balance impairments or speech exercises for speech impairments. They should also be task-specific exercises which involve everyday activities you have difficulty doing, such as getting up from a chair or turning in bed. Under professional guidance you may do Yoga, Tai chi or Dance Therapy which engage your full body and mind.
Engage in activities such as art and craft, book reading, singing or learning a new language or a musical instrument which will improve your mental health and well-being.
A combination of daily physical and cognitive exercise routines will help to keep your mind and body healthy.
Assistance: If walking is becoming very difficult, you may need a walking aid. If you experience choking or swallowing difficulties, you should immediately consult a doctor or a speech therapist. An occupational therapist can help you modify your home as well as certain activities so that you can carry them out with fewer difficulties. If you have trouble talking or you are unable to communicate properly then a speech therapist will help you with strategies and aids to enhance your communication. Assist your caregiver in understanding your difficulties as much as you can. Together as a team you can make each other’s work easier.
Being productive: You may notice that daily activities are requiring more time and effort for completion. This might be a bit frustrating, but make sure you don’t lose hope and keep yourself motivated. Regular practice and staying active will help you to control your symptoms and reduce dependence on others. Continue doing things that make you happy like carrying on with your job, traveling, playing with your children/grandchildren, communicating with your friends and family over the phone and helping in household responsibilities like folding the laundry, grocery shopping etc. Staying physically and mentally active will help to slow down symptom progression.
