Are Tremors the Only Symptom of Parkinson's Disease?

By Jamie Shapiro | June 16, 2016 | Comments Off on Are Tremors the Only Symptom of Parkinson's Disease?

Home Care in Lake Forest IL

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive disease that impacts physical and cognitive function. Understanding the symptoms of this condition is an essential part of making sure that you can be the highest quality caregiver possible for your aging parent throughout the course of their disease.

One common misconception about Parkinson’s disease is that tremors are the only or the most common symptom of the disease. This is not the case. In fact, though tremors are a common symptom of the disease and one of the early warning signs that many people look out for, not everyone who develops PD will experience tremors. Some people will go through their entire experience with the disease and never have a tremor. This means that paying attention to the other symptoms is vital to creating and following through with a care approach that is tailored to your loved one’s needs.

 

Some other symptoms of Parkinson’s disease include:

  • Slow movements. The slowing of movements or lack of spontaneous movements is also known as bradykinesia. This can make it challenging for your parent to speak at a normal pace or perform basic daily tasks such as button clothing or walking with a normal gait.
  • Masking. You may notice that your aging parent always looks like they are angry or upset, or that they do not seem to emote properly according to the situation. This is called “masking” and involves the movement of the muscles in the face to create facial expressions.
  • Changes in speech. One symptom that many caregivers do not expect when caring for a senior who is dealing with Parkinson’s disease is changes in their speech. They may expect that in the latest stages of the disease their parent might struggle with communication, but the truth is that even in the earliest stages of the disease their speech can be impacted. This can include speaking at a softer volume, speaking more slowly, or not enunciating when speaking.
  • Falling backward. Falling is a serious risk for all seniors, but for those who are dealing with PD, the falls have a tendency of going backwards. Called retropulsion, this can be extremely dangerous, especially if your aging parent is performing a task such as walking up the steps or is in a potentially dangerous location such as in the kitchen or the bathroom. Careful mobility assistance from you or a home care provider is valuable in protecting your parent and preventing potentially catastrophic accidents.

 

Introducing home care early in your parent’s journey with Parkinson’s disease is one of the best decisions that you can make. This disease is progressive and each person will experience it in their own individual way. This means that there is no way to predict what symptoms your parent will have or when those symptoms will change or worsen. Having an in home care services provider available from the beginning can give your parent greater confidence that they can continue living the lifestyle and quality of life that they desire and deserve while managing their disease as it progresses.

If you or an aging loved one are considering home care in Lake Forest, IL, contact the caring staff at Companion Services of America today at (847) 943-3786. Our home care service area includes Northbrook, Highland Park, Deerfield, Glenview, Buffalo Grove, Evanston, Des Plaines, Skokie, Lake Forest, Wilmette and the surrounding areas.

 

Source:  https://www.parkinson.org/understanding-parkinsons/10-early-warning-signs

Jamie Shapiro
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