On some days with Parkinson’s, your hands are steady next to the coffee machine, then suddenly they’re not, before you’ve even finished the breakfast dishes. There are “on” times, when medication is working well – you can read more at https://www.who.int/news-room, and you’re able to carry on with activities you’ve done many times before. Then there are the “off” times, when your muscles become stiff, your hands shake, you move slowly, or have trouble talking. These changes can happen without warning. Having constant help at home means that the household schedule can be flexible to allow for these ups and downs.
The Pill Organizer: Supporting Medication Schedules
The plastic pill organizer on the kitchen counter keeps you organized each morning. Each small box inside has been labelled with a large black permanent marker. Most Parkinson’s medicines need to be taken at specific times, and you could find yourself experiencing problems with your symptoms later in the day if your medicine is late. Your caregiver can remind you when it’s time to take your pills, hand you a drink of water from a large cup, and check off which pills you’ve taken on the care plan.
They will also look out for other potential challenges. It can be difficult to tear open a blister pack of tablets when your fingers are stiff, or you may not remember taking your morning tablet if you get distracted answering the telephone. Caregivers follow approved instructions and report concerns to the right family member or healthcare professional rather than changing doses themselves.
The Breakfast Table: Adjusting Meals to the Moment
You eat breakfast in your favourite bowl at the breakfast table. Sometimes, during your “on” times, it’s fine to eat a big bowl of cereal or porridge. Other times, it feels like forever until you can lift a spoonful to your mouth. You can make things easier by using a cup with a large handle, placing a non-slip mat on the counter, and moving your chair closer to the table. You might not mind that the toast has gone cold if you can eat more easily.
Your caregiver prepares food that fits your prescribed diet and swallowing needs, encourages you to eat, and observes you to see if you cough or choke. They might make a simple adjustment, such as cutting a ripe pear into smaller pieces or clearing away items from your placemat so that you can move the bowl. If there is any concern about swallowing, this is brought to the attention of the appropriate health care provider as soon as possible.
The Walker: Adapting to Changes in Mobility
During the early afternoon, when you’re feeling strong, you may leave your walker beside the sofa and spend the day sitting and relaxing. Later, as your symptoms increase (check out here), you may need extra time just to make it from the sofa to the washroom. You might need help to ensure that the path is clear of stray shoes, electrical cords, and the ottoman that tends to migrate into the middle of the hallway.
The amount of help that you require can vary from moment to moment. Based on your care plan, your caregiver may assist you by:
- Putting the walker in place when you’re getting up to stand
- Giving you time to rest in your favourite armchair
- Helping you to steady yourself as you turn
- Keeping items you use often down on lower shelves
- Observing and reporting episodes of freezing near narrow doorways
It’s important that you don’t feel rushed. A caregiver can stand by the door and give you a familiar cue while you find your rhythm.
The Bedside Lamp: Providing Support When the House Gets Quiet
There are different concerns to consider when it comes to the evening. You’ve got your reading glasses, a cup of water, and the call button next to the bed. But even though you can see the bedside lamp shining its beam across the table, getting out of bed in the middle of the night can be a struggle. Maybe you’re stiff, having had a bad dream, trying to time your medication correctly, or maybe you have to go to the washroom.
Having a caregiver on hand overnight means that they’ll be there if you wake up and hear the bed squeak at two o’clock. They can turn on the lights and help you move safely according to your mobility plan. They can also straighten a bunched rug, check that the walker is facing outward, and record repeated waking or new confusion for follow-up.
Care That Fluctuates Through the Day
To support the challenges that come with Parkinson’s, assistance needs to be tailored to the current situation. Whether it’s the pill organizer on the kitchen counter, the breakfast table, the walker in the living room, or the bedside lamp, You’re First Home Care can provide assistance that responds to fluctuating capabilities while supporting familiar habits and routines. Whether you forget a pill next to a half-empty water glass, or pause at the bedroom doorway in the middle of the night, observation makes all the difference.