Seniors have various diseases that they have to fight in their old age. Home caregivers are there to help them with activities that they are unable to do themselves or find very difficult to do. They also support them psychologically so that they can better cope with an illness that makes life unpleasant and complicated. One of the common diseases that afflict seniors is the well-known Parkinson’s disease.
Parkinson’s disease
Parkinson’s disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer’s disease. It affects both the central and peripheral nervous system. The disease is chronic and progressive, which means that symptoms appear gradually and worsen. At first, most people do not notice the disease because the initial symptoms are usually muscle and joint pains that are attributed to other diseases or taken lightly. In the last stage of the disease, the patient is unfortunately bedridden or. Chair.
Manifestations of Parkinson’s
The typical manifestations that accompany it are motor and mobility problems, which include trembling of the limbs, but also limitation of movement. This is caused by muscle stiffness. Symptoms usually affect only one side of the body at first. As the disease worsens, they also appear on the other side. Other accompanying manifestations are slow movements or problems maintaining stability. In addition to symptoms that fall under the motor area, there are also sleep problems, difficulty speaking and swallowing, fatigue and depression.
The reason for these symptoms is the damage and gradual death of nerve cells in the brain that are responsible for dopamine production. The disease is named after the English surgeon and pharmacist James Parkinson, who first described it in 1817.
Occurrence and causes
Parkinson’s disease affects one to two people per thousand people worldwide per year. Statistically, one person over the age of 60 out of every 100 people will get the disease. The risk therefore increases tenfold with age. In Europe, 1.2 million people have been diagnosed , which is not a positive number.
The cause of the disease is usually impossible to determine, but scientists believe that heredity is one of the main risk factors. In 5% to 15% of people affected by the disease, it also occurs in their family members. More males are at risk. Research has shown that environmental factors in the form of toxins and pesticides, as well as previous head injuries, also have an impact on the development of the disease. The risk is surprisingly reduced with smoking and ingestion of caffeinated beverages.
What helps
It is a disease that unfortunately cannot be cured. The good news is that with the right treatment, its symptoms can be suppressed and alleviated, leading to a preserved quality of life. The treatment process consists of regular medication, which is supervised by the nursing staff caring for the elderly person. Rehabilitation is also an important part of the treatment. This consists of a regimen and exercise that relieves muscle stiffness, relieves joint pain and improves joint flexibility.
Due to reduced mobility, the senior has problems with basic activities such as hygiene, eating, dressing. Over time, there are complications with turning over in bed, which they need help with from caregiver to avoid Decubitus . The most important point that caregiver can help a sick person is to motivate him/her. It is necessary to take care of its distraction. It is a good idea to implement activities that the senior enjoys and will put him or her in a positive mood. A suitable option will be physical activities such as yoga, which improves balance and relieves stress. This disease is frustrating for the elderly, so it is important to take this into account and communicate with them empathetically.
Despite the fact that it is an incurable disease, caregiver plays an important role to not only help the sick senior, but also to significantly improve the quality of life. It is always good to know that there is someone there for you to turn to. Also on us in Athens you can count on. If you have a problem and don’t know how to help a senior, we are available around the clock in Athens.
