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Parkinson’s disease is a serious neurodegenerative disorder that can cause severe disruption in your everyday life. Particularly during late-stage Parkinson’s, many people will begin to struggle with their activities of daily living – including bathing, cooking, and even having meaningful social interactions. With Parkinson’s care at home with Kinkaid Private Care, our select clientele can receive both supportive caregiving to improve quality of life as well as in-home medical treatment to minimize symptoms and potentially slow the progression of Parkinson’s disease.
Understanding Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson’s disease is caused by degeneration of nerve cells within a specific area of the brain known as the substantia nigra. These cells are responsible for the production of the neurotransmitter dopamine, which plays several roles in everyday functioning – including movement and motivation. While the exact cause is unknown, people with Parkinson’s lose these dopamine producing cells at an accelerated rate. Research suggests that the symptoms of Parkinson’s begin to appear when the number of these cells drops to 50% of age-matched controls – and people with Parkinson’s will continue to lose these cells indefinitely.
While the significant majority of people with Parkinson’s are over the age of 55, the disease can affect people as early as their 30s. There is no known cure for Parkinson’s disease, but there are several treatments and therapies that can improve symptoms, slow the progression of the disease, and significantly improve quality of life.
Over half a million people in the United States have a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease, though scientists believe the actual number may be as much as one million. And while the effects of Parkinson’s are most severe for the person with the disease, countless family members, spouses, children, and loved ones are affected by the disease as well.
Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease
The most visible symptoms of Parkinson’s disease are physical, and this is typically how the disease is first identified. The physical symptoms of Parkinson’s disease include:
- Tremors in the hands, legs, arms, or jaw
- A forward leaning posture
- Difficulty walking or balancing
- Stiff or rigid muscles
- Progressive loss of automatic movements, such as blinking or swallowing
- Slowed reaction time
These physical symptoms can severely impact a person’s ability to carry on with their daily routines. While the impact may be minimal during the early stages of Parkinson’s, in time people will lose their ability to drive safely, to cook for themselves, or to practice personal hygiene. Parkinson’s disease can also increase the likelihood of falls, which can lead to severe medical complications in older patients.
In addition to the physical effects of Parkinson’s, many patients will experience debilitating mental health symptoms as well. Common mental health challenges for people with Parkinson’s include:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Hallucinations
- Memory problems
- Dementia
The cause of mental health challenges in people with Parkinson’s is twofold. On the one hand, the loss of dopamine producing neurons can play a direct role in the development of any of these symptoms. On the other, many people who are diagnosed with Parkinson’s will begin to feel symptoms of anxiety or depression due to the dramatic change in life circumstances.
However these symptoms develop, they can often be just as difficult to manage as the physical symptoms of Parkinson’s. Thankfully, effective treatment methods can reduce both physical and psychological symptoms – and with Kinkaid Private Care, you can receive these treatments from the comfort of your home.
How Home Parkinson’s Care Can Help
Kinkaid Private Care offers concierge in-home medical services to people and families who need support in dealing with the consequences of this serious illness. At Kinkaid, our team offers a whole-person approach to helping people with Parkinson’s maintain and even improve their quality of life, by combining direct medical care with the added support of in-home caregivers.
Kinkaid’s model for home healthcare lets people choose the services they need the most and brings physicians, nurses, and expert caregivers to you.
Types of In-Home Care for Parkinson’s
For many people living with Parkinson’s, making regular trips to the hospital to receive care can be difficult, time consuming, and stressful. This can lead to delaying appointments, skipping routine checkups, or simply not receiving the highest quality of care due to hospital constraints.
In-home Parkinson’s care can alleviate these issues by having a team of medical professionals meet you where you’re already most comfortable: your home. Kinkaid Private Care offers several different kinds of home medical care, depending on what you and your family need the most:
- At-Home Doctor Visits: By having a physician come to your home, you can receive accurate diagnoses, new prescriptions as needed, and even many complex medical procedures such as EKGs, blood draws, or X-rays. Home doctor visits can also restore the personal connection that many people feel is lost in hospital settings, where physicians are juggling several patients and running a tight schedule.
- In-Home Nursing Care: Kinkaid Private Care’s team of registered nurses, licensed vocational nurses, and nurse practitioners can address a wide range of health needs for people with Parkinson’s disease. This can include routine injections, wound care, medication management, and much more.
- In-Home Caregivers: For people who are beginning to have difficulty keeping up with their everyday tasks and routines due to Parkinson’s, an in-home caregiver can make a dramatic difference in day-to-day quality of life. In-home caregivers can help with routine tasks such as cooking, personal hygiene, medication reminders, and even transportation. Further, an in-home caregiver can serve as a much-needed source of social support and companionship, which can make a significant difference in everyday life.
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