Parkinson’s disease (PD), a neurodegenerative brain disorder, significantly affects body movements, notably increasing the risk of falls for elderly individuals. Ensuring a safe home environment is crucial for seniors with Parkinson’s, facilitating their ability to age in place safely and comfortably.

Visiting Angels recognizes the unique challenges of Parkinson's care and offers specialized support to create a safer living space for those affected by the disease.

“Thank you Visiting Angels for being there for my mother.”

"My mom had Visiting Angels and they were the best. Helena, her caregiver, would come to my mom's house 4 hours a day. She would even introduce Helena as her good friend when she would meet her longtime friends for lunch. Helena would keep my mom's home clean, take her for walks around the neighborhood, cook her healthy meals, go with her to doctor's appointments, socialize with my mom, give my mom her meds, track her glucose, and other activities of daily living. She went above and beyond. My mom's caregivers from this agency and the director, Joan, were top notch. Thank you Visiting Angels for being there for my mother."

Creating a Safe Living Space for Parkinson's Care

For seniors living with Parkinson’s disease, it's essential to create a safe living space to minimize the risks of falls in the home. Visiting Angels follows recommendations from leading Parkinson's research organizations to implement our Safe & Steady Fall Prevention Program to ensure the safest possible home environment, including:

General Living Area Adjustments

Removing throw rugs, securing carpets for better traction, stabilizing furniture, and installing night lights are among the steps to ensure safety and ease of movement.

Bathroom Safety Enhancements

Installing grab bars, non-slip shower strips, shower chairs, and raised toilets is critical for preventing bathroom falls.

Bedroom Modifications

Simplifying the space, raising bed height, and adding bed rails or poles help seniors with PD maneuver more easily and safely.

Kitchen Adaptations

Rearranging items for accessibility, replacing knobs with handles, and providing rubber-handled utensils can make kitchen tasks safer and more manageable.

Understanding Parkinson’s Symptoms for Better Care

Recognizing the motor symptoms of Parkinson’s is vital for effective home care. These include slowed movements, tremors, rigidity, balance problems, muscle stiffness, gait freezing, stooped posture, and speech difficulties. Emotional challenges, such as depression and loneliness, are also common and need sensitive handling.

Navigating the Stages of Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s disease progresses through five stages, each presenting unique challenges:

• Stage 1: Mild symptoms that are manageable but noticeable.
• Stage 2: Increased walking and posture issues, with daily tasks taking longer but still manageable independently.
• Stage 3: Increased balance loss and slower movements, possibly leading to falls. Independence is possible, but assistance may be required for daily activities.
• Stage 4: Severe symptoms make walking and standing without help difficult, necessitating home care for daily living activities.
• Stage 5: Advanced stage, where stiffness prevents walking or standing, requiring full-time care.

Visiting Angels: Your Partner in Parkinson’s Home Care

As Parkinson’s progresses, your loved one may require daily or round-the-clock care. Visiting Angels offers comprehensive Parkinson’s disease care, including assistance with daily living activities, meal preparation, and medication reminders. Our caregivers are trained in Parkinson’s support, ensuring your loved one follows safety recommendations and receives quality care.

We begin by assessing the home for safety and ease of navigation, providing recommendations for living with Parkinson’s. As symptoms advance, we continuously adapt our care plan, ensuring your loved one’s needs are met at every stage of the disease.

For compassionate and expert Parkinson’s home care services, contact Visiting Angels Riverside County online or call us at (951) 727-4357. Our goal is to enhance the quality of life for those living with Parkinson’s, providing tailored care that adapts to their evolving needs.