Caring for your loved one living with Parkinson’s in Bromley

Caring for your loved one living with Parkinson’s in Bromley

• Right at Home Bromley have years of experience in homecare with expert CareGivers experienced in providing care for those living with Parkinson’s

• The needs of each person with Parkinson’s are unique and individual, so it’s important to create a personalised care plan – something which Right at Home do for every Client

What is Parkinson’s disease?

• Parkinson’s is a progressive neurological condition. This means it causes problems in the brain and gets worse and worse over time (source: Parkinson’s UK). Over time, the brain is unable to control certain functions such as body movements

5 Stages of Parkinson’s Disease

There are three main symptoms to look out for, and we would always recommend seeing your GP as soon as possible if you are worried about yourself or a loved one.

• Tremor/ shaking
• Slow movement
• Stiff and inflexible muscles

Other symptoms may include:

• Pain
• Sleeping problems
• Memory loss
• Mental health problems such as anxiety and depression

What to remember when caring for a loved one living with Parkinson’s disease

Caring for a loved one can be daunting, learn more below on how best to support a loved one. 

Keep regular appointments with your doctor

• It can be difficult to find the correct dosage and combination of medication because the condition is so different in each person, so a good relationship with your GP is vital so that symptoms can be managed.

Managing Parkinson’s is about more than medication

• Doing 2.5 hours of exercise per week can slow symptoms (Parkinson’s UK)

Emotional Support is just as important as managing physical symptoms

• It’s not uncommon for Parkinson’s to have an impact on mental and emotional health, as anxiety and depression can go hand in hand with memory loss or insomnia. 

• Providing emotional support for a loved one living with mental health problems can be difficult, and you can find more advice through the NHS

Find someone you can talk to

• Discover a local support group for other people caring for people with Parkinson’s who understand what you’re going through and can offer advice
• Speak to Right at Home to find out how our CareGivers can alleviate some of the pressure

Look after yourself

• Caring for your loved one is a full-time responsibility and there are often no breaks in between.
• Time off can help you rest and reconnect with friends and family while a respite carer supports your loved one.
• Speak to your GP to find out about the respite care services available in your local area.

How Right at Home Bromley can help

• Caring for a family member can be a huge responsibility and affect relationships
• Right at Home can alleviate some of the pressure by providing support with day to day needs such as personal care, medication support and companionship 
• Lots of people living with Parkinson’s continue to live normal lives, but we can help to make it as manageable as possible through providing care that suites your needs 

Personalised Care Plans

• We assess every Client to understand their needs
• Match CareGivers to Clients based on expertise, interests, and personality
• We will recommend a plan to help each Client achieve their goals
• We share this with family/friends

Companionship

• To support the Client to continue enjoying their hobbies and interests 
• To assist in activities that may have become more difficult than they previously were

Emotional support

• Support Clients coming to terms with a diagnosis
• Support in understanding and managing the effects on their independence

Medication assistance

• Many people living with Parkinson’s struggle to find the correct medication dosages and need help from their GP
• Right at Home can assist with GP appointments 
• We can also assist with prompting to take or administer medication

Home help

• Light household tasks like dusting, changing bedding, vacuuming, shopping, and food preparation

Personal Care

• Assistance with washing, dressing, eating, and toileting when symptoms are worse and affect these abilities

Our CareGivers understand the unique physical, mental, and emotional challenges faced by those with Parkinson's. Many people who live with Parkinson’s can have a normal life expectancy thanks to advances in treatment. While there is no cure, at Right at Home, we know that support for someone living with Parkinson’s is vital and can help them live their best possible life. Contact us on 02081506272 to speak to one of our experts and learn more about the help that Right at Home Bromley can provide.