Senior Home Care Can Help Spot Early Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson’s disease is a neurological disorder that affects movement. This disease is progressive, meaning it develops over time in stages. It is characterized by symptoms such as tremors, stiffness, slow motion, and impaired balance and coordination. It is essential to know the first signs of Parkinson’s so your senior can start developing a treatment plan and find the right senior home care for help as the disease progresses.
A Seniors Handwriting Changes
Believe it or not, one of the first symptoms of Parkinson’s is a senior’s handwriting. It may become much smaller than it usually is and closer together than usual. Most of the time, during a senior’s life, their handwriting will stay consistent and the same, so when it changes suddenly, it is something to take note of and something senior home care can help report to the doctor later on.
Tremors Will Start to Happen
A tremor is when your senior has uncontrollable shaking, or it may look like they are shivering. These are not a normal part of aging, and they can be a sign that your senior needs to talk to their doctor immediately. Parkinson’s cannot be cured, but it can be managed. If your senior has painful tremors, it is important not to ignore the problem. Most of the time, a senior won’t feel pain while shaking, but it can be annoying to deal with. If your senior starts to have tremors, senior home care can help them with household tasks that may be too hard to do now.
Strange Faces
Your senior may make faces that you find odd. For example, if you are having a fun conversation, they may look serious or angry even if they are happy. On the other hand, they may have a blank stare when they are upset. It’s important to understand your senior loved one’s emotional and mental state to help decide whether they are okay. When in doubt, ask them how they are feeling after the conversation. It can be harder to tell how a senior feels based on facial expressions, which many people often read without even thinking about.
They May Have Sleeping Problems
Seniors still need a full night of sleep. Unfortunately, many problems can cause sleeping disruptions, and one of those things is developing Parkinson’s disease. A senior may have tremors in bed, which cause them to thrash around, roll off of the bed, or cause sudden jerks in their sleep. You can see how this can be exhausting and lead to a lack of sleep. Your senior loved one should have a bedtime routine to help their bodies relax and help ease their minds. If your senior continues to fall out of bed, it’s time to put in padded rails to help keep them safe at night.
A Senior May Experience Muscle Rigidity
Muscle stiffness can be normal for a senior waking up, but for someone who suffers from Parkinson’s disease, it can be much worse in the mornings. Their stiffness may become so bad they develop a shuffling walk because it is too hard to bend. Senior home care can help your loved one get around easier.