Living Safely at Home with Parkinson’s

Introduction

Parkinson's disease is a progressive condition that causes damage to the nervous system. In short, Parkinson's reduces the level of dopamine in the brain, and without enough dopamine, the brain struggles to send messages to the muscles, leading to issues with coordinating the body's movement. Understanding the symptoms of Parkinson's, and how they can affect everyday safety at home, is an important first step towards living independently and confidently with the condition.

The Symptoms of Parkinson's

There are three main symptoms of Parkinson's, alongside two broader categories worth keeping in mind: motor symptoms, which relate to movement, and non-motor symptoms, which cover psychological and other physical symptoms unrelated to movement. If you're experiencing any of the symptoms below, you should make an appointment with your GP. It's important to note that not everybody will experience the same symptoms, and in most cases, symptoms appear very gradually and may be quite mild for a long time.

Tremor

One of the first symptoms of Parkinson's is a tremor. If you start to notice a tremor, it doesn't necessarily mean you have Parkinson's, since other types of tremor could point to different conditions. An essential tremor is a common type that doesn't necessarily point to Parkinson's disease; it's a trembling in your limbs, head, or voice, usually noticeable when you're moving. A dystonic tremor is a symptom of dystonia, a rare neurological disorder separate from Parkinson's. According to Parkinson's UK, a Parkinson's tremor can appear in two different ways: a resting tremor, which usually happens when you're still, such as lying in bed, or an action tremor, which tends to happen when you're doing something, like eating with a knife and fork.

It can be difficult to tell the difference between a Parkinson's tremor and other types of tremor. If you're worried that you're experiencing Parkinson's symptoms, you should make an appointment with your GP, who may refer you for a specialist assessment. The specialist can carry out a variety of tests to help reach a diagnosis. However, according to the NHS:

No tests can conclusively show that you have Parkinson's disease. Your doctor will base a diagnosis on your symptoms, medical history and a detailed physical examination.

Slowed Movement

This symptom of Parkinson's is also known as bradykinesia, and it can be hard to spot. If you experience it, you might find you walk with slower, shorter steps, take longer to do things in general, and notice your coordination is worse than usual. Physiotherapy can help alleviate symptoms of Parkinson's, particularly slowness of movement, and there are also certain medications available which can be very helpful.

Muscle Stiffness

Muscle stiffness, or rigidity, is the third of the main symptoms of Parkinson's. People with the condition can experience stiffness in both the face and body. If you experience rigidity, it can be especially difficult to write by hand, and in general, it might make it harder than usual to move certain parts of your body or make certain facial expressions. Muscle stiffness can also cause painful cramps, though regular exercise and physiotherapy can help combat these. If you're experiencing facial muscle stiffness, a speech therapist can show you helpful exercises to keep your facial muscles flexible.

Balance Issues

In some cases, Parkinson's affects the part of the brain that controls balance. For lots of people with Parkinson's, balance becomes more challenging and less automatic, which unfortunately means they can be prone to falls. Physical therapy can improve balance and make falls less likely, but if you're worried about this, it's worth considering a fall detector alarm. A fall detector is programmed to the wearer's height, and when it successfully detects a sudden drop, it automatically sends an alert to our 24/7 Emergency Response Team, making sure you receive the help you need – an important safety net for staying at home independently.

Reduced Sense of Smell

A weakening sense of smell can be an early warning sign of Parkinson's, although it can be hard to notice since it tends to happen very gradually. After a Parkinson's diagnosis, lots of people realise they had been losing their sense of smell for a long time.

Psychological Symptoms

The most widely-known symptoms of Parkinson's affect movement, but there are a range of other psychological symptoms that can also appear.

Fatigue is not the same as just feeling tired after exercise or a bad night's sleep; instead, it's a feeling of tiredness without an obvious cause, and resting generally doesn't relieve it. According to Parkinson's UK, up to half of people with Parkinson's experience fatigue, so it's relatively common.

Certain types of dementia are also more likely to affect those with Parkinson's, namely Parkinson's dementia and dementia with Lewy bodies. These share very similar symptoms and are sometimes grouped together under the umbrella term "Lewy body dementia." Someone with Parkinson's might receive a dementia diagnosis if mild cognitive impairment symptoms begin to affect their daily life, and treatment typically consists of medication and cognitive therapy.

It's unfortunately common for those with Parkinson's to experience depression too. Research suggests that a lack of dopamine, the chemical responsible for Parkinson's symptoms, can also trigger depression. However, the symptoms of Parkinson's can make it difficult to spend time socialising, which can in turn lead to loneliness and increase the risk of depression. Sufferers can combat depression through cognitive behavioural therapy, counselling, and medication.

If You're Noticing Symptoms of Parkinson's

If you're experiencing any of the symptoms described above, you should contact your GP. However, experiencing any of these symptoms doesn't necessarily mean you have Parkinson's disease, since many other conditions share similar symptoms. According to the NHS, around 1 in 500 people is affected by Parkinson's disease, roughly equivalent to 0.2%. Men are slightly more likely to develop the condition than women, and regardless of gender, most people with Parkinson's do not experience symptoms before their 50s.

How Careline365 Can Help People With Parkinson's Disease Live Safely at Home

A Careline365 alarm can help protect people who have been diagnosed with a long-term medical condition like Parkinson's, supporting them to continue living safely and independently at home. If one of our alarm users has a fall or feels unwell, they simply need to press the button on their alarm pendant, and our 24/7 Emergency Response Team will arrange help immediately. To find out more about our life-saving service, give us a call on 0800 101 3333.