BRAIN

Parkinson's disease: tips and practical advice for everyday life

Living with Parkinson's disease is not easy, both for the patient and his or her loved ones. Especially since it is a progressive disease that can worsen over time. In its most advanced phase, the disease can lead to motor complications and balance problems. The patient may also have difficulty swallowing and fall regularly. In view of the many difficulties that this can cause in relation to the daily life of the patient and his or her entourage, it is necessary to adopt certain tricks to ensure the patient's comfort on a daily basis.

The patient's diet

Some eating disorders are directly related to Parkinson's disease. The patient may experience nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, swallowing problems, or changes in smell and taste. In addition, involuntary hand movements can complicate the handling of cutlery. These problems, combined, can cause one or more deficiencies and increase the patient's caloric needs.

What can I do?

Well, it is, above all, necessary to opt for protein-rich foods for the sick person. Furthermore, in order to remedy the harmful effects of reduced appetite, it is recommended that the patient be given an enriched diet. This makes it possible not to increase the amount of food he or she must take for each meal while covering his or her nutritional needs. Dietary supplements can also be added to meals. However, it is necessary to seek the advice of a dietician or physician. As for nausea, you can help your loved one by splitting his or her meals.

Sometimes people with Parkinson's disease can also be prone to constipation. In these cases, it is recommended that the patient be given fluids on a fairly regular basis and be encouraged to walk periodically. Also, it is important that they eat enough fiber.

Everyday gestures

In addition to diet-related problems, the person suffering from Parkinson's disease also faces many difficulties on a daily basis.

Getting into and out of bed

For the patient with Parkinson's disease, getting back in or out of bed can be problematic. To get back in, advise them to bend both legs while placing their feet flat. By relying on the weight of the legs, the patient can let himself or herself fall on the side he or she wants. To get out of bed, the patient must proceed in different stages. The first step is to lie on the side, and using the elbow and hand, the patient can sit down. At the same time, both legs should be left out of the bed. If necessary, you can always install a strap in the middle of the mattress.

Sit down

With the motor disturbances that Parkinson's disease can cause, sitting can become a real struggle for the patient. To do this, he or she must get as close as possible to the chair so that the calves can call out to it. Then, ask the patient to bend his lower limbs while leaning slightly forward and to descend gradually. He or she can use his or her arms to slow down the bending.

Getting dressed

In order to make it easier to dress a patient with Parkinson's disease, it is preferable to choose looser clothing. Also, opt for regular buttons or velcros instead of zippers. The same goes for shoes; forget about lace-up shoes. If the ill person is a woman, advise her to tie her skirt and bra from the front and then turn them inside out.

Use your hands

As Parkinson's disease progresses, it can impair manual motor skills. This is why  it  is essential to help the patient improve his or her manual agility. To do this, you can give him two small balls and ask him to spin them in his hands. The patient can also do finger softening exercises and work on his agility by sorting coins.

As for writing, you may advise the patient to use a felt-tip pen instead of a pencil. And if handling a pen becomes more and more difficult, writing in capital letters can be a great help to the patient.

Driving with Parkinson's disease

Relatives of a person with Parkinson's disease often wonder whether or not that person can drive. In fact, the answer to this questioning depends on each case. In any case, the medications used to treat this pathology have an effect on the patient's vigilance. Moreover, the patient may experience drowsiness on a fairly regular basis.

In order to drive, the patient must first sit down and then rotate a quarter turn to get behind the wheel. The same technique works very well for getting out of the car. However, if you have a loved one who suffers from this condition, it is important to seek the advice of a doctor before letting them drive. In fact, even if the patient is able to stand properly behind the wheel, his or her tremor problems may cause accidents.