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Taking Care of Elderly Parents at Home

A Parkinson's Diagnosis is a big adjustment

Parkinson's Disease Is a Major ADjustment For the family

Parkinson’s disease comes with a host of challenges for both the individual and their family. When your elderly parent is diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, many can live alone in their own homes with assistance from adaptive devices, furniture, and outpatient medical care.

CONCERNS

and facts

Injuries are common among people with Parkinson’s disease (PD), occurring most often in bedrooms (30%), living areas (19%), and kitchens (15%). People with Parkinson’s disease often fall when they lose their balance either due to muscle weakness, vision impairment, or home hazards, which cause them to trip or stumble.

LIVING

FAMILY AREA ADJUSTMENTS

Take time to widen spaces between objects so that there is plenty of space to navigate.
A common hazard is wires, extension, USB, TV cords, etc. Plug appliances into the nearest outlets and tape cords to the molding along the walls to keep them off of the floor.
Provide chairs with firm backs and raised seat cushions to add height and support to make the sitting down and rising process easier.
A parent with PD has a hard time controlling fine motor skills, which makes turning on lamps and small switches difficult. Consider voice-activated lights with LED bulbs or a Hue system.

FALL CONCERNS

PREVENT COMMON INJURIES

Beds located too far from the bathroom
Cluttered floor space requiring turns and maneuvering to get where the person is going
Narrow entrances to rooms and bathrooms
Inadequate lighting
Beds being too high from floor
Uneven floor surfaces, Carpets or rugs that can be tripped over
Uneven floor surfaces
Lack of handles or assistive devices to help a person turn or sit down

FALL CONCERNS

2. PREVENT COMMON INJURIES

Beds located too far from the bathroom
Cluttered floor space requiring turns and maneuvering to get where the person is going
Narrow entrances to rooms and bathrooms
Inadequate lighting
Beds being too high from floor
Uneven floor surfaces, Carpets or rugs that can be tripped over
Uneven floor surfaces
Lack of handles or assistive devices to help a person turn or sit down

WASHROOM

QUICK BATHROOM HACKS

Just like the chairs, invest in a raised toilet seat and safety rails. A person with PD will reach for whatever is nearby, so those items need to be sturdy enough to prevent a fall.
Remove or modify items that require fine motor skills. Consider adding a long handle faucet extension to the sink.
Water makes everything more slippery! Put down a non-skid bath mat, add grab bars, a transfer bench or shower chair .

THE KITCHEN

KEEP FOOD PREP SAFE

Someone with Parkinson’s disease can have a hard time with balance and standing. Make the kitchen a place your parent can utilize by lowering countertops or enable them to work from a kitchen table.

Some small ease-of-use products that can make a BIG difference are electric can openers, bottle and lid openers, or a basic food processor for cutting up veggies.
A spike board can make chopping and cutting easier without a food processor.

PD CAN BE OVERWHELMING

Parkinson’s Disease can be overwhelming, but fortunately, we offer many products and solutions to assist your parent and keep them safe so they can maintain their independence at home as long as possible. An Occupational Therapist can provide a list of photos of recommended modifications and assistive devices, which you can send to us. We will contact you within 48 hours with a customized action item list specific to your unique needs and situation. Let us help your loved ones age gracefully at home by contacting us now.

Using Technology to Communicate Care

For many American homes, voice-controlled speakers and personal assistant devices have become a norm of convenience. From turning up the music volume to dimming lights, Amazon’s line of Echo products have become a source of home-living ease for many. However, an often overlooked benefit of the Echo product line-up is the added ease of daily living it can provide our aging adults. And, in the time of social-distancing and medical isolation, these products can also increase connection and interaction with our loved ones without the need to compromise safety.

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Home Away From Home: Granny Flats

If you thought having your aging parent move into your house was the only alternative to expensive assisted livng facilities when they are no longer able to live independently, you may be the perfect candidate for an ADU, or Accessory Dwelling Unit. ADUs are also sometimes referred to as granny flats or mother-in-law cottages. These are small standalone units added to the backyard of an existing single family home, or apartments converted from extra space in the house such as a garage or basement.