Parkinson’s Disease and Assisted Living
Last Updated: January 3, 2019
Providing care to a parent or senior loved one with Parkinson’s disease can be meaningful and rewarding, but when the disease has advanced, you may find you can no longer manage it on your own.
Read more about the steps you can take to ensure your loved one finds the best assisted living community that offers comprehensive assistance to someone living with this progressive neurological condition.
Assisted Living Care for Parkinson’s Disease
Assisted living communities often include 24-hour emergency care, housekeeping, laundry, medication monitoring, meals and personal care assistance, all of which may greatly benefit those with Parkinson’s disease.
Be aware, however, that not all communities are created equal — as services vary considerably, spend some time thoroughly checking out a number of residences.
Look for places that not only provide high caregiver-to-resident staffing ratio, but train their staff to understand Parkinson’s disease and its signs and symptoms.
Staff should be on the lookout for swallowing difficulties (signs include clearing the throat when eating or a “gurgling” vocal quality during meals), for instance, as this is a common condition in people with advanced Parkinson’s. Staff should also keep a close eye on changes in physical function and should always check residents’ ability to communicate basic needs and ideas.
How a Multidisciplinary Approach Can Work Best
People living with Parkinson’s disease may benefit from many interventions besides medication. With this in mind, search for assisted living communities that provide a multidisciplinary treatment approach to managing care.
Members of the team could include a:
- Licensed nurse as well as other nursing staff
- Neurologist
- Pharmacist
- Physical and/or occupational therapist
- Physician
- Speech therapist
It may also be helpful to have a counselor, psychiatrist or psychologist on board if your parent (or partner) is experiencing anxiety or depression.
The Monitoring of a Parkinson’s Diet is Critical
A dietitian or nutritionist is also a key part of the team as diet is critical for persons living with Parkinson’s disease. In addition, staff need to administer drugs at precise times prior to and following meals, and must closely monitor interactions between food and medications.
Residents taking the drug levodopa (or l-Dopa), commonly prescribed to persons with Parkinson’s, may need to follow a protein redistribution diet. Another concern is weight loss, which affects around 70% of people living with Parkinson’s, according to Parkinson Canada. A number of factors may contribute to this issue, such as the aforementioned swallowing problem; constipation; or reduced appetite related to loss of cognitive ability, depression or sense of smell.
In addition to consulting with a dietician or nutritionist, a speech pathologist can assess the swallowing ability of those with advanced Parkinson’s.
Using Exercise and Movement Therapy for the Disease
The American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) also recommends exercise as a way to maximize health and independence, so look for an assisted living community that offers a variety of exercise options.
In addition to walking, which may not be possible for someone with late-stage Parkinson’s disease, aquatic exercise can be a great way to increase endurance and muscle strength for a senior with the disease.
A number of low-impact movement therapy classes — such as seated dance therapy, the Feldenkrais Method or seated Tai Chi — can help improve balance, flexibility and range of motion, minimizing the risk of falls.
What Can Help With Assisted Living Costs
Before choosing an assisted living community, you will need to determine what your family can afford. The American Elder Care Research Organization estimates that the average monthly cost for someone with Parkinson’s disease in an assisted living community was between $4,000-4,500. Keep in mind, this is only a ballpark figure — assisted living costs vary quite a lot depending on the community and where it is located.
Although Medicare does not cover assisted living community costs, most states offer some financial help to people with limited financial resources through Medicaid. The determination of eligibility for Medicaid is complex, however, and varies from state to state. In addition, some state programs cover only certain types of costs and medical conditions, and not all facilities accept Medicaid patients.
To apply for Medicaid, contact your local Department of Human or Social Services.
Have you found an assisted living community for a loved one with Parkinson’s disease? What was your experience like? We’d like to hear your stories and suggestions in the comments below.
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