Parkinson’s will differ for each person living with the disease as it will affect them in different ways. This means that any care given needs to be geared towards the symptoms they are experiencing. With this in mind, our care is personalised to each individual’s needs.
In this article we are going to share how we care for those living with Parkinson’s and how it differs from other types of care that we provide in our Worthing nursing home.
What is Parkinson’s disease?
Parkinson’s is a neurological disease that gets progressively worse as time goes on. Those living with Parkinson’s don’t produce enough of the chemical dopamine as some of the nerve cells that produce it in the brain have died.
This means that their movements can become slower and tasks can take longer to complete. Other common symptoms of the disease are tremors and stiffness, but these aren’t the only symptoms of the disease. Things such as balance issues, loss of sense of smell, and nerve pain can also be some symptoms.
Parkinson’s care in our Worthing nursing home
As Parkinson’s can vary from person to person and as their symptoms can change from day to day, our Parkinson’s care is flexible, and provides exceptional care for your loved one with peace of mind for you.
Qualified nurses
As you would expect in a nursing home that provides specialist care, our nurses are fully qualified and experienced in dealing with Parkinson’s and everything that comes with the disease. As a nursing home, we have medical staff on hand 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to help with any medication and support that might be needed.
Physiotherapy
We know that Parkinson’s can cause muscle stiffness and therefore we appreciate the importance of movement and specialist attention to these issues. This is why we have a physiotherapist who visits our nursing home regularly to work with our residents who are living with Parkinson’s. We have found that these sessions are beneficial and a successful part of our Parkinson’s care.
While we encourage regular sessions, we understand that symptoms change daily and sometimes taking part in a physiotherapy session might be too much for your loved one, which is why we will always listen to the needs of each resident.
Personal care
If your loved one suffers from some of the more common symptoms such as a tremor and muscle stiffness, simple personal hygiene might become difficult. We can help with these tasks when assistance is needed.
Our carers will promote independence, and will only ever step in when the help is needed and not before. The relationship built between our carers and residents is built on empathy, respect and dignity, and this is always at the heart of any personal care that is given. We always emphasise the importance of discretion when providing personal care to our residents.
As your loved ones symptoms progress, we will monitor and adjust the level of personal care assistance they receive.
Exercise
As mentioned above, balance problems are often a symptom of the disease. With the deterioration of balance usually comes a loss of confidence, and a lack of exercise as this then becomes harder.
One of our priorities is keeping your loved one active and mobile for as long as possible. Whether that is accompanying them on a gentle stroll around our gorgeous gardens during the day or assisting them to participate in other physical activities that they used to enjoy.
We regularly have special guests in to lead different types of exercise for our residents, whether that be chair exercise classes or something more physical.
Help with eating
As the tremors get worse, eating can get more challenging. Our nurses have been specially trained to provide assistance to help your loved one to feed themselves independently or if required, feed them.
Needing to be fed can be quite a big change for your loved one, so we will work with them to maintain their independence when eating for as long as possible. When they get to a stage where they need further support eating, we will provide this with compassion and understanding, so as not to put them off meal times altogether.
We are lucky enough to have a great team of talented chefs who love to make our residents favourite foods, using locally produced and sourced ingredients. So you can be confident that your loved one is getting a healthy and balanced diet.
Mental wellbeing
The loss of independence that can come with your loved one’s deterioration will take an emotional toll. The move into a nursing home will always include a period of adjustment. This is why we will provide emotional support to your loved one when they move in with us, and the time they spend with us.
Family friends visiting
We encourage friends and family to visit us as often as possible, and don’t require you to book prior to coming. Keeping in touch with loved ones is pivotal to those living in a nursing home as seeing familiar faces can reduce feelings of loneliness and help with the transition to full-time care.
When is it time to consider a nursing home for your loved one?
As symptoms of Parkinson’s worsen, daily tasks can become more challenging and more support is needed. This is when it might be a good idea to look into a nursing home, as they can provide 24 hour care. Our nursing home in Worthing offers outstanding care while promoting the importance of independence and dignity.
If you are currently looking for a specialist Parkinson’s nursing home for your loved one, book an appointment to come and view our nursing home in Worthing.
To book a viewing get in touch with Debbie, our Manager, by calling 01903 830600, or emailing manager@countrylodgenursing.co.uk.