Many people have heard of Parkinson’s, but few know how this condition affects individuals. This is why April is National Parkinson’s Awareness month, annually. By raising awareness, families, communities, and in-home caregivers can work toward improving the quality of life for individuals suffering from Parkinson’s.

Parkinson’s Disease, An Overview

Having seen how Parkinson’s impacts every aspect of life, we at Prestige Home Care Agency, Philadelphia PA, encourage you to learn more. If someone you know has this condition, the importance of knowledge cannot be stressed enough. 

Parkinson’s impacts a person’s nervous system. The most obvious symptoms are difficulties with movement and tremors. The disease is progressive, and a family cannot help but feel anxious and worried. 

What exactly do Parkinson’s sufferers face? 

• Emotional changes including depression
• Facial Expressiveness decrease due to weak muscles. This makes it hard to show emotions. 
• Physical changes include muscle stiffness and poster changes, both of which may limit the individual’s freedom of movement. 
• Tremors: They begin on one side of the body, usually in one limb. 

The reality is that Parkinson’s affects every aspect of a person’s life, usually manifesting around the age of 60. However, early-onset is a possibility. Women are at a lower risk for Parkinson’s. People studying the condition feel there are a variety of factors that cause it, one of which may be a genetic predisposition. 

How to Help 

Parkinson’s Awareness Month highlights ways in which you can get involved in the fight against Parkinson’s.

1. Become an informed advocate. The more you know, the better you can help someone you know with Parkinson’s.
2. Fundraising. There are a lot of options on how to raise funds from walks and silent auctions to bake sales. Don’t feel like it’s just a “small” gesture. Every little bit helps.
3. Committing to financial assistance that can support ongoing research.
4. Use social media. You can put up links on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as a way of networking and getting the word out there.
5. Become a volunteer. There are many home-bound individuals with Parkinson’s who benefit from socialization greatly.
6. Touch base with nonprofit organizations and ask them for suggestions on community support. 

When a Loved One Develops Parkinson’s

The test results are in, and the bottom line is Parkinson’s. Now what? If this is your husband, you go from wife to nurse and caregiver. If it’s another person in your family, you find yourself conflicted by “helping” and trying to handle your own daily responsibilities. 

The situation is not going away any time soon. And, the challenges you face can become overwhelming. That’s where a professional home health care provider like Prestige Home Care Agency can step in with extra eyes and hands to ease the burdens. The relief of having trained, compassionate aids becomes more and more apparent as Parkinson’s progresses. 

If you would like information on how we can assist you, use our online contact form or email us at info@prestigehca.com. Or you can call our Philadelphia, PA office any time at 215.677.3299 (F) 215.677.9811.