Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Creating a Parkinson's Friendly Home

When living with Parkinson's disease it is crucial to make your home "Parkinson's friendly". Here are a few minor adjustments you can make to ensure that your home is safe to live in with Parkinson's disease.

(Low beds are optimal for people with Parkinson's)
Bedrooms:

  1. Appropriate height bed: ensure that the bed is easy to get in and out of.
  2. Accessibility of closet: make sure that clothing rods are at an appropriate height and well lit.
  3. Flashlight by bed: in case of power outages keep a flashlight at your bedside.
  4. Night-light: use to light your way from the bedroom to the bathroom and throughout hallways.

(Bathroom necessities for people with Parkinson's disease)

Bathroom:
  1. Bath bench: allows you to sit while showering and will reduce the risk of falling.
  2. Elevated toilet seat: enables you to get up easily with less effort.
  3. Grab bars: allows for safe hand hold when getting in and out of the shower.
  4. Non skid decals: allows for more traction in the shower and will reduce the risk of falling.
(Kitchen that meets Parkinson's needs)

Kitchen:

  1. Drawers: store commonly used items here to avoid having to reach for them.
  2. Items for cooking: place close to the stove so they are easy to access when cooking.
  3. Smoke alarm: install or check existing to alert you of fire .


To find more ways to make your house "Parkinson's friendly" refer to http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/making-your-home-parkinsons-disease-userfriendly.html. It is crucial to your safety that you follow these precautions and make these changes in your household.

Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Questions to Ask Your Doctor


Questions to Ask Your Doctor

1. Why is this medicine being prescribed and what symptoms are problematic?

  • By asking this you can make sure you understand what the medication is that you are taking and understand how to take it and side effects to look for.                                                                                  (medications)

2. How will you monitor my Parkinson's treatment and coordinate my care?
  • This will teach you who to contact with questions and how often you should be visiting for evaluations.
3. What other professionals do you recommend I see?
  • Your doctor may give you a referral for a physical therapist, speech pathologist, and occupational therapist in order to be assessed by these specialists.

4. Could you recommend a dermatologist?                                    
                                                                                                                              (physicians)
  • People with Parkinson's are at a higher risk for developing melanoma so it is crucial for you to be screened regularly by a dermatologists. 

5.What types of exercise are most suitable for me?

  • This will give you an idea about what you can do and how much physical activity you can endure.


                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                  (exercise groups)
Visit http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/parkinsons-disease/basics/preparing-for-your-appointment/con-20028488 in order to find out more questions to ask your doctor and how to prepare for your upcoming doctors appointments. Please make sure to take notes during your appointment to ensure that you remember all of the things the doctors are telling you.