Parkinson’s disease in the elderly is a progressive brain and movement disorder that affects people over 50 and makes it difficult for them to perform daily tasks, move, and walk. Like Alzheimer’s disease, it destroys brain cells. Parkinson’s disease develops chronically in the person and gradually beats the patient’s physical strength, and the patient loses the ability to move and speak.

Parkinson’s disease is caused by a loss or decrease in the secretion of a substance called dopamine. The dopamine hormone is a neurotransmitter, and the absence of this substance causes the loss of control over the movement of muscles and causes uncontrollable vibrations.

Symptoms of Parkinson’s disease

• The most common symptom of Parkinson’s disease is hand tremors. There may be tremors in only one hand, or there may be tremors in only the fingers. But over time, the quake spreads to other body parts as the disease progresses.
• Another symptom of Parkinson’s that occurs as the disease progresses is a problem with the gastrointestinal tract. During this time, the digestive power decreases, and the patient gradually develops issues such as constipation and loss of appetite, and as a result, the patient experiences severe weight loss and weakness.
• Other symptoms of Parkinson’s disease in the elderly include hot flashes and excessive sweating. In some patients, a burning sensation is seen in parts of the body such as the hands and feet.
• Loss of the sense of smell is one of the most common symptoms of Parkinson’s in the elderly, which in most cases, no one notices. Many people with Parkinson’s may never see a gradual decrease in their sense of smell and eventually lose it.
• Altered sleep patterns and restlessness at night are also symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. In this case, the person has insomnia at night, and his sleep patterns are disturbed.
• Depression and feelings of extreme anxiety are symptoms that are exacerbated as the patient progresses. Experts believe this feeling in the patient is due to the imbalance of brain activity.
• The slowness of movement and speed of speech are other symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.
• Changes in the face and eyes’ standard shape are symptoms seen in many patients with Parkinson’s. Drooping facial and lip muscles, staring, and slow eye movement are joint in the disease’s early stages.
• Muscle and limb stiffness is a symptom confused with other diseases such as osteoarthritis or rheumatism and is seen in the early stages of the disease.

Treatment of Parkinson’s disease

• Use of medication

Levodopa is an amino acid that is converted to dopamine in the brain. Taking this drug activates nerve cells using the dopamine produced and reduces symptoms such as slowness of movement and stiffness of muscles and joints in the person, and the patient can move his limbs quickly.

Other drugs such as Apokin, Mirapex, Parlodel, and Ricoep are prescribed to reduce motor symptoms in the elderly. A specialist doctor should prescribe each medication, as drug interactions can have irreversible effects on the aged.

• Supportive therapies

These treatments include physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy. Parkinson’s disease does not directly cause death. But because of the damage, it does to the body, it weakens the body and makes it vulnerable to infectious diseases. If the treatment is done wholly and continuously, the person can resume his everyday life and see a reduction in the symptoms of the disease.

Caring for a patient with Parkinson’s

Proper diet and an intensive diet plan are other issues we should consider in caring for a person with Parkinson’s disease. The patient can crave a minimal amount of food due to the inability to swallow and losing appetite at each meal. So, the caregiver should reduce the time interval between meals.

Doing daily and regular exercise is vital for the patient. Motive activities will play an essential role in slowing down the disease process. There should be daily stretching and walking in the senior exercise program.

It will be difficult for family members, especially the spouse, who is also senior, to care for the elderly at home if the patient’s condition and symptoms are severe. If the patient is not taken care of properly and left alone, the symptoms will be more powerful, and treatment will be difficult for the patient and the caregiver.

 The aged with Parkinson’s should be examined regularly by a physician and provided with nursing and care services. The older adult will need more care. We should give Medications to him regularly.

Caring for a Parkinson’s patient in a Cavendish Manor Retirement Residence

In such cases, the family members should make a serious decision and take the elderly with Parkinson’s to the best Niagara Falls nursing home for further care to benefit from the treatments available in this center to reduce his suffering.

Cavendish Nursing Home offers a variety of treatments such as occupational therapy, exercise, and speech therapy that will effectively improve the patient’s condition. In some cases, it has been observed that the patient has gained the ability to move and maintain balance to continue living normally during the treatment period in these centers and return home. At Cavendish Manor Retirement Residence, patients feel better about communicating with their peers, which will play an essential role in the healing process.

At Niagara fall’s best nursing home, doctors perform daily examinations, and professional nurses care for the elderly and are aware of all their problems. 

A regular daily exercise program is also essential for the elderly with Parkinson’s disease. The more active the patient, the slower the disease’s motor symptoms. At the Cavendish Manor Retirement Residence, there is a daily exercise program for the elderly that will effectively improve their mental and physical condition.