It’s normal to wonder how a new diagnosis will affect a loved one. This is especially true if your loved one has Parkinson’s disease. This is because Parkinson’s disease is a neurological condition that can cause problems in both mental and physical functioning. This could pose a risk to seniors’ safety at home. People with Parkinson’s can also develop dementia, a decline in thinking and reasoning abilities that can make it more difficult to do certain activities. You may have to modify your home or develop new routines if your loved one is diagnosed with dementia. It’s easier to adapt when you are prepared for these changes. Adaptation can reduce stress and improve the quality of your loved one’s life. This guide gives an overview of important safety measures for seniors living with Parkinson’s disease. This guide also provides information on what to look out for in assisted living communities in Myrtle Beach if your loved ones have Parkinson’s disease.

Room-by-Room Home Modifications For Seniors with Parkinson’s Disease

It is important to do a thorough assessment of your home before making modifications. This checklist will help you identify safety concerns in each room.

Parkinson’s disease can have a significant impact on balance and coordination. This increases the likelihood of falling. Between 45% and 68% who suffer from Parkinson’s disease each year experience some form of fall. These falls can lead to broken bones, head injuries, and other serious consequences. It is also difficult to balance in cluttered spaces, which can lead to tripping over or bumping into objects. Some people with Parkinson’s have trouble cooking because of their shaking or other uncontrollable movements. This increases the chance of injury to knives and burns. Modifications can be made to reduce some of these risks, making your home safer. These are the top safety tips for seniors living with Parkinson’s disease:

Lighting

Parkinson’s disease can cause blurry vision, double vision, and other vision problems in some people. These symptoms may not disappear, but lighting modifications can be made to make it easier for loved ones to see. Use table lamps and floor lamps in rooms with low overhead lighting to brighten the room. To make it easier to see when you are preparing meals and putting dishes away, consider installing LED lights above countertops or inside your kitchen cabinets.

It can be beneficial to install light-switch extensions in every room of the house for seniors who are using wheelchairs or walkers. These extenders allow you to reach existing light switches from a sitting position. This may help reduce the chance of falling. You can add chains or longer cords to overhead lights that don’t have a switch.

Flooring

Parkinson’s disease is known for its common symptom, Parkinsonian gait. This symptom can cause people to shuffle their feet while walking or freeze before they take a step. It may make it more difficult for loved ones to navigate each room because they might be stooped while walking. You can reduce the chance of falling by replacing thick carpeting with hard flooring or thin carpeting. Because people who shuffle often don’t pick their feet up when they walk, deep-pile carpeting is not recommended. This increases the chance of tripping over the thicker surface. Deep-pile carpeting also makes it more difficult to use wheelchairs and walkers.

Furniture

You may need to replace the furniture in your loved one’s home depending on the severity of the disorder. You might consider adding a lift chair recliner in your living room. Because of its comfort and positioning, this type of chair is often used to sleep as the disease progresses. The chair has an internal motor that lifts it up and down. This makes it easier for older people with Parkinson’s disease and other neurological disorders to get in and out of the chair.

What to Look for in a Senior Living Facility for a Loved One with Parkinson’s

It is important that you and your loved ones decide on a senior living facility that will provide the best care for those with Parkinson’s disease. Here are some things to look out for:

• There are specialists available: Residents should have the ability to access a neurologist if they don’t live in the same area. In the event that residents have worsening symptoms, it is helpful to have easy access to an imaging center or hospital.
• 24-hour supervision: Although your loved one might not require a staff member to be present in their home at all hours, it is important that they have someone available to help them 24 hours a day. Staff members can help with daily activities, occupational therapy, off-site medical care, or other duties to ensure your loved one is safe.
• Experienced caregivers: These are the best programs that have qualified staff to care for residents and provide support. Senior living communities offer Parkinson’s-specific training for staff to better help residents with this diagnosis. They also provide assistance in recognizing signs and symptoms of disease progression.
• Medication management: Seniors with Parkinson’s disease need to be well managed by their medication. Studies have shown that delays can cause “an immediate rise in symptoms.” Late medication administration can lead to confusion, loss of balance, worsening of tremors, and difficulty communicating. Senior living communities that emphasize timely medication administration are safer for Parkinson’s patients than those that delay medication frequently.
• Personalized care plans: Parkinson’s disease is not the same for everyone. Individualized care is essential to slow down the progression of Parkinson’s disease. Because symptoms vary in severity and frequency, personalized care is crucial. Staff members may be able to detect when residents are suffering from worsening symptoms by providing individualized care.

Assisted Living Facilities that Offer Parkinson’s Care and Management

Assisted living communities offer support 24 hours a day. They also provide a variety of amenities and services to help people with Parkinson’s disease. Some communities offer specialized Parkinson’s care programs that provide extra support for residents to manage their symptoms and maintain as much neurological function as possible.

Visit Reflections Assisted Living at Carolina Forest today to find out more about our assisted living community and other services.

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Reflections Assisted Living at Carolina Forest
219 Middleburg Dr
Myrtle Beach, SC 29579
(843) 903-0700
https://www.reflectionsassistedliving.com/