Parkinson’s disease is a progressive illness that develops gradually and starts with barely noticeable tremor in one hand. It is one of the most common central nervous system disorders that affect muscles and movement. It affects the brain activity and damages the nerve system of our body that is utilized by brain to send signals about movement to body muscles.
Symptoms of Parkinson’s disease
- Hand tremors
- Muscle stiffness
- Slowing and jerking
- Motion-related issues
- Sleep disturbances
- Fatigue (feeling weak or tired)
- Constipation and other gastrointestinal problems
- Low blood pressure
- Cognitive decline
Palliative Care for Parkinson’s disease
Palliative care is specially designed medical care that focuses to give relief to the patient from symptoms and stress of serious illness like Parkinson’s. Parkinson’s is a nervous system disorder that gets worse as the condition progresses over time. The disorder cannot be cured but managed by medications and palliative care to improve symptoms. Some people become more disabled and dependent over time despite the best treatments.
Palliative care is provided by a team of specialists, including palliative care doctors, nurses and social workers who work in association with patient’s doctors to provide an extra layer of support. Although it can be given at any age and at any stage of illness but ideally, it should be started as soon as the patient is diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and be continued throughout the entire course of illness and treatment.
Goals of Palliative Care for Parkinson’s disease
- Improve the quality of life of patient and his family
- Provide relief from the symptoms, pain and stress of disease and treatment
- Match patient’s treatment choices with his personal needs and goals
- Give physical, occupational and speech therapy to help the patient in managing the practical issues of daily living
- Provide guidance to make difficult decisions about nutrition and feeding tubes
- Give personal care to the patient
- Help patient in clarification of goals and setting up treatment plans far in advance
- Managing sufferings and distressing aspects of advanced Parkinson’s
- Listen, advice and support all the people involved in patient care
- Advantages of Palliative Care for Parkinson’s disease
- Increased control over life
- Addresses physical problems, including pain, breathlessness, lose of appetite, immobility and constipation
- Support the personal, social, psychological and spiritual needs of patient and his family
- Better cope with the challenges of living with Parkinson’s disease
- Psychological relief to the patient just by listening to his pain
- Provide 24-hour care to the person who cannot perform routine tasks of living
- Support patient so that he can continue to live life to the fullest
- Enhances communication between patient, family and doctors for clarification of treatment and care goals
In the journey of chronic or long standing illness, patients receive many types of treatments. Repeated hospital admissions become a routine for such advanced stage patients. Unfortunately, even with the best treatment; if illness becomes advanced, palliative care is all that is required. Chronic heart failure, chronic renal failure or chronic kidney failure, bed ridden patients due to neurological disorders, patients on ventilators or liver failure patients commonly need expert medical opinion or assistance at home. ACCN is committed to provide specialist health care at home to all advanced illness patients. Home care is best for stage 4 or last stage illness patients. Earlier patents use to search for nursing homes near me, but now ACCN is all set to provide not only nursing home care but home care products also at home and home becomes care home. The purpose of home health care or home care services is to provide comfort care to the patients. Home health care services include home nurse, junior doctor, specialist doctor and other medical procedures at home. Sometimes home health aide can also work like in home nurse. Most of the health care agencies don’t provide respite care for caregiver, but we do. ACCN provides home care nursing services and doctors for home health for assisted living in Delhi, NCR and other parts of north India. Contact us for arranging home visit or for an appointment at our office.
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Note:-This information should not be used as a substitute for necessary consultations with an Oncologist or Cancer Pain Specialist or Palliative Care Specialist to meet your individual needs. Always consult a medically trained & qualified professional with questions and concerns you have regarding your cancer and cancer related problems.