The carers at the palliative care center in Los Angeles know all too well what it means for family and friends when someone they love and cherish has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Unfortunately, when the news hits, it usually consumes you and you start to lose focus of life.
On a more positive side, if you get some excellent advice from the people at either the hospice in Pasadena or Los Angeles, you will begin to see the diagnosis as just part of your loved one, rather than who they are on the whole.
While you and the rest of the family may be experiencing anxiety, worry, and concern during your loved one’s early phase of Parkinson’s diagnosis, you should use this helpful information from the Los Angeles hospice center such as Faith and Hope Hospice and Palliative Care to allow you to make the Parkinson’s journey for you and your loved one a lot easier.
What Is An Aging Life Care Professional?
The medical team at the Los Angeles palliative care facility like Faith and Hope Hospice and Palliative Care can reach out to all the professionals needed. However, if you don’t have enough organization, it may be only when symptoms become problematic that something gets done.
If a Movement Disorder Specialist, who is a neurologist, provided the diagnosis, then he or she will most probably connect you with the experts for this journey. There are times that some people at a palliative care facility in Los Angeles do not understand the expertise and value of the Aging Life Care professional, which is also referred to as a Geriatric Care Manager. The Aging Life Care Professional or Life Navigator can assist you and your family concentrate on what gives your life meaning and purpose and can also attend to the medical issues that crop up from a Parkinson’s diagnosis.
Normally, a medical team is employed which includes a neurologist, speech pathologist, physical therapist, nutritionist, occupational therapist, and sometimes a social worker.
The navigator has contacts with supportive services. Support groups, personal trainers, volunteer opportunities, technology supports, and helps with entitlements are some services you may require. Local support systems from legal experts to housing options or home modification experts – which allows for aging in place.
Many Families Worry About Cost Of Care As Parkinson’s Progress
It is vital that you get some recommendations for an Elder Law attorney. An Elder Law attorney specializes in helping couples or families cope with the cost of long-term care. Many people who have gone through the same journey find that doing the appropriate legal planning is essential. Nevertheless, it is best to talk to an Aging Life Care Professional beforehand. Since you can take the advice given based on principles and resources to your attorney. Then the Elder Law attorney can have these recommendations added to your legal plans. Also, you should designate two or three people to name as potential Health Care Advocates for you. That way if you can’t make the health care decisions yourself, you can stay rest assured that a trusted person is in charge.
The purpose of an Aging Life Care Professional expert is to keep track of their client from the diagnosis and through every change and transition. In a nutshell, an Aging Life Care Professional expert is a personalized advocate that is on call 24/7 for the changes that may be experienced.
Fortunately, many people can live with Parkinson’s for many years before the family has to bring in care or move their loved one to supportive living communities. On the other hand, there is also the downside that some individuals with Parkinson’s will advance more quickly. That is why it is essential to begin planning early in this process.
A Healthy Lifestyle Is Important With Any Progressive Illness
When you or your loved one is suffering from a progressive illness, you should exercise for at least 30 minutes a day and eat a healthy diet. It is a good idea to consult with a nutritionist who specializes in individuals with Parkinson’s. Also, it is important that people who suffer from Parkinson’s keep socially engaged since isolation can contribute to shortening their life and lead to depression.
What Is Parkinson’s Disease?
If you suspect that your loved one may have Parkinson’s disease, you should look out for key symptoms.
Parkinson’s disease is a brain disorder that results in a person shaking, experiencing stiffness, and they may have difficulty walking, balance, and coordinating.
Most of the time, Parkinson’s symptoms start off slowly and get worse over time. As the disease progresses, individuals affected by this disease may have problems walking and talking. Also, they may have mental and behavioral changes, sleep problems, depression, memory difficulties, and fatigue.
Men as well as women are vulnerable to Parkinson’s disease. Nonetheless, the disease usually affects 50 percent more men than women.
One undeniable risk factor for Parkinson’s is age. Even though many people with Parkinson’s first develop the disease at around 60 years of age, about 5 to 10 percent of people with Parkinson’s have “early-onset” disease, which starts before the age of 50. Early-onset forms of Parkinson’s are usually, but not necessarily always, inherited, and some forms have been connected to particular gene mutations.
What Are The Symptoms Of Parkinson’s Disease?
It is important to note that Parkinson’s disease has four main symptoms:
- Tremor (trembling) in hands, arms, legs, jaw, or head
- Stiffness of the limbs and trunk
- Slowness of movement
- Impaired balance and coordination, sometimes leading to falls
There are other symptoms that may include depression and other emotional changes such as difficulty swallowing, chewing, and speaking; urinary problems or constipation; skin problems; and sleep disruptions.
Keep in mind that symptoms of Parkinson’s and how quickly the disease progresses vary among individuals. Occasionally, people ignore early symptoms of Parkinson’s as just the effects of the normal aging process. In many cases, there are no medical tests to accurately detect the disease, so it can be challenging to diagnose the disease accurately.
Also, symptoms usually start on one side of the body or even one limb on one side of the body. As the disease advances, it eventually affects both sides. Nevertheless, the symptoms may still be more severe on one side than on the other.
