Caregivers And Parkinsons Disease

Parkinson's disease is a long term problem, which will only eventually get worse. Unfortunately there is no cure for Parkinson's disease at the time of writing, (only a way of controlling it).

Dealing with the effects of Parkinson's disease and the subsequent loss of independence hits the sufferer hard; they will find themselves emotionally affected by their illness which can affect them by causing depression etc. However it is not just the person who is affected by this disease who tends to suffer the consequences, because as Parkinson's disease progresses, the sufferers spouse or other family members or friends usually have to take care of their everyday needs.

Dealing with these needs can take a lot of adjustment for these carers, especially if it is work they have never had to do before. The person who has the Parkinson's disease may also find it physically demeaning to have their daily needs attended to especially if they are performed by a family member such as a daughter or son.

Many carers become both emotionally and physically drained from the effects of looking after a person with Parkinson's disease. The work can be heavy and demeaning with little or no thanks. Therefore it's important that the carers of those suffering with Parkinson's disease monitor their own health and ensure they keep some time for themselves.

Here are just a few tips for helping you avoid both physical and mental breakdown whilst caring for someone with Parkinson's disease.

* Take time for yourself. It's silly to feel guilty for wanting to get away and spend time by yourself for a while. (You have your own needs to attend to as well remember). Give yourself at least an hour break and go for a walk, read a book or magazine, or just run yourself a nice hot bath and have a good soak. You'll be surprised at how much that hour or so will recharge your batteries.
* Join a support group. There are support groups for Parkinson's disease in most western countries, and you will be amazed at the support and advice you will obtain. It's also a chance to give you a semblance of a social life!
* Make your life (and that of the person you are caring for as easy as possible). Look around your home and think of how you can rearrange it so the person you are caring for can get around it much easier. Remember their mobility is decreasing, and the more space and assistance you give them here, means less hard physical work for you.
* For many people, Parkinson's disease affects their memory, so to make it easier for them to remain independent for longer periods of time; you need to ensure you don't constantly change furniture and other items around. (This will just make their confusion worse), It's also sometimes a good idea to stick labels to drawers etc to remind the person with Parkinson's disease where everything is kept.

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