April 2017 sees Parkinson’s Awareness Week. It is believed that 127,000 people have Parkinson’s in the UK (about 1 in 500), and whilst medication is available to help, there is no known cure, and it is not fully understood what causes the disease. A person’s condition can change by the day, even by the hour. Most people first notice a tremor, but not everyone will have this. Many people with the disease have stiff muscles, which makes it difficult to do everyday jobs such as fastening buttons, and can result in slower movement. A person may also “freeze;” this is more so in doorways going from room-to-room. Other symptoms of Parkinson’s can include anxiety, sleeping disorders, and taking longer to think.
The Parkinson’s Society has a wealth of information and booklets on their website. Whilst we hear of older people with the disease, the website has case studies of people in their early 40s. A range of drugs are available to help with the condition, and how they work is complex. These are often used alongside speech therapy, physiotherapy, and occupational therapy.
Mark Booker (Owner Independent Living) commented, “whilst we hear of a huge amount about people with dementia because the number of cases are large and rising we tend to hear less about Parkinson’s disease. Here at Independent Living we specialise in Parkinson’s, this started as far back as 2012 when one of our very first customers who needed care had very advanced Parkinson’s and was fitted with a pioneering deep brain stimulation device. What many people do not know is that some people who have Parkinson’s are more likely to get dementia so to some extent the two can go together”.
Should you require support in relation to Parkinson’s, please call Amanda or Lilian 01257 696 050.
