Parkinson's disease and everyday tips

Submitted by Emma Hamilton on Wed, 24/03/2010 - 11:28pm

Grab rails can assist with daily tasks.

As Parkinson's disease progresses loss of fine motor skills and balance creates many obstacles with simple tasks.

In this article:

Parkinson's disease and tips for dressing
Parkinson's disease and tips for personal hygiene
Parkinson's disease and tips for meal times
Parkinson's disease and tips for communicating

Coping with daily tasks can be made easier by getting the help of an occupational therapist. An occupational therapist can identify how Parkinson’s disease symptoms interfere with independence and suggest new ways of doing things or home care aids and equipment to make life easier.

Parkinson's disease and tips for dressing

Simple activities like getting dressed in the morning can take a lot of effort for people with Parkinson's disease. Rigidity and slow movements can make putting on clothes time consuming. Keep things simple by following a set routine.

Lay out clothes for someone in order of how they are to be put on
Allow for plenty of extra time
Make sure a person is sitting to dress. Sitting on a firm chair is preferable to a soft low bed
Dress the affected side first
Choose clothes that are easy to put on
Wear clothes with Velcro fasteners instead of buttons, zip pullers, elastic waists, bras that hook at the front, clothes with back closures
Move items in cupboards so they can be easily reached

Parkinson's disease and tips for personal hygiene

Falls in slippery bathrooms are a real danger for someone with Parkinson's disease. Attending to personal hygiene can be difficult for someone with poor balance and coordination. Make showering easier and safer by:

Installing grab rails in and outside the shower recess to increase stability and protect against slips and falls
Using a stable shower seat to sit on whilst showering with a hand held hose
Place rubber mats on slippery tiles
Use an electric toothbrush for brushing teeth
Attach soft grip handles to brushes and combs
Use soap on tap to avoid soap residue in the shower
Use an electric razor
Gather all equipment before you begin
Ensure someone is wearing his or her medical alarm pendant
Use a raised toilet seat to ease transferring on and off a toilet

Parkinson's disease and tips for meal times

In the later stages of Parkinson’s disease, problems with speech and swallowing can become more severe.
Maintaining a nutritious diet is important for everyone as they age, but people with Parkinson’s disease can find meal times challenging. Tremor can make handling utensils or preparing food extremely hard.
People with Parkinson’s disease can have problems with drooling, moving food in the mouth and chewing.

Eating and drinking adequate amounts is not only essential for good nutrition but it also aids the digestion of medications for Parkinson’s disease. Constipation can also be a common problem. A dietitian can recommend a healthy meal plan for someone with Parkinson’s disease.

Home care aids can make meal times easier and more enjoyable.

Utensils with special grip, deep spoons or angled utensils can help to scoop food from a plate
Plate guards create a lip on a dish enabling a person to scoop out food without spilling
Rocker knives help to safely cut up food without sawing back and forth

If a person has any problems with swallowing or eating they should be referred to a speech pathologist for assessment.

Parkinson's disease and tips for communicating

Difficulty communicating can be distressing for someone with Parkinson’s disease. People with Parkinson’s disease can have speech problems such as difficulty pronouncing words, slurred or soft muffled voice.

A speech pathologist can suggest ways to improve speech or devices to assist with communication. Communication boards or electronic devices can help people who can no longer write things down.
Seek the advice of a speech pathologist or occupational therapist before purchasing any equipment.