By Joanne Pizzuto
Parkinson's disease is a condition that many people have heard of; however, few people are aware of the details surrounding this illness. As April is Parkinson's Disease Awareness Month, the home care professionals at Always Best Care of Alamance, serving Alamance and Guilford Counties, as well as the communities of Burlington, Southern Greensboro, Jamestown, High Point, and Roxboro, are focused on educating others about this condition. Here are some basic facts about Parkinson's disease to help you better understand what this illness is and how it impacts seniors.[1]
Parkinson's disease is a condition that many people have heard of; however, few people are aware of the details surrounding this illness. As April is Parkinson's Disease Awareness Month, the home care professionals at Always Best Care of Alamance, serving Alamance and Guilford Counties, as well as the communities of Burlington, Southern Greensboro, Jamestown, High Point, and Roxboro, are focused on educating others about this condition. Here are some basic facts about Parkinson's disease to help you better understand what this illness is and how it impacts seniors.[1]
1. Parkinson's
disease is categorized as a progressive movement disorder that is chronic in
nature, which means that the severity of the illness increases over time.
2. Almost
one million individuals across the United States have Parkinson's disease.
3. The
cause of this illness is not yet understood and there is no cure; however,
treatment options have been developed that assist individuals in managing their
health and maintaining the highest quality of life possible.
4. The
most common signs of Parkinson's disease include postural instability
(difficulty maintaining balance and challenges with coordination), bradykinesia
(slow movement), tremors (frequently occurring in the jaw, arms, legs, hands,
and face), and rigidity (often in the core and limbs).
5. The
cause of the symptoms of Parkinson's disease is the death or otherwise
dysfunction of nerve cells within the brain. When these neurons, most of which
are located in the substantia nigra, die, they frequently release dopamine. The
surge in this chemical impacts the ability of the remaining neurons to maintain
control over the movement of the body.
6. The
symptoms that an individual with Parkinson's disease experiences are unique. The
nature of this disease means that each individual who develops it has a
different experience. For instance, one senior may experience rigidity and
tremor while another has bradykinesia and postural instability.
7. The
current treatment options available for Parkinson's disease include both
pharmaceutical and surgical approaches. Doctors work with individual patients
to determine the best treatment methods for their unique cases. Because this
illness is progressive, treatment may become more intense as time goes on.
The elder care professionals at Always Best Care of Alamance
(http://www.abc-seniorservice.com) encourage you to support Parkinson's Disease
Awareness Month by learning more about this condition. If possible, they
recommend getting involved in events that support research regarding this
illness, such as annual walks or runs that are targeted at raising money for
research and supporting members of the community who suffer from this disease.
The Home Care professionals at Always Best Care know that taking care of an elderly loved one is emotionally difficult. But with these tips, you can help your family better understand the illness and get the most out of the time they have with their loved one.
Our Resources page may also provide needed information.
We at Always Best Care are attuned to your needs and equipped with the knowledge and experience to make the transition to elderly care easier on you. It is not an easy decision to make, so we have put together an E-booklet filled with tips, advice, and general information so that you are well informed. If you decide to contact us to assist you care for your senior, we will discuss your needs and capabilities so that the change in their life is handled delicately. Joanne Pizutto, the owner of Always Best Care, awaits your phone call or email, whether it is today or farther down the road.
Call today (336) 512-6744
[1] http://www.pdf.org/about_pd
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