According to most estimates, Parkinson’s disease currently impacts about 10 million people from around the world. The cause of the disease is unknown, and as a result of this, there’s no effective way to prevent or properly treat the disease. Current medical practices revolve around trying to control the symptoms of the disease. Parkinson’s is characterized by stiffness, shaking, and tremors, and it primarily is diagnosed within the elderly. It is unusual–although possible–for people under the age of 55 to have symptoms of the disease. As such, it is something that plays a factor in the senior care for many people.
Slowly, scientists are starting to learn more about the disease. For example, A new study reveals problem might start in the mitochondria in certain cells. This new direction of thought has come from a recently published study out of Norway. As you might remember from your high school science classes, the mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell. It is believed that Parkinson’s Disease might start because the mitochondria cannot keep up with changes that occur within the brain cells. The DNA in mitochondria seems to be unable to keep up with the changes that occur during the aging process. The aging process naturally damages DNA, and this happens more violently in those that have Parkinson’s. This is just a theory for now, but it seems to have a lot of significance.
Having an elderly loved one with Parkinson’s disease can be quite a trial for you and your family. While you might be able to provide all of the care that they need right now on your own, that won’t always be the case. Having a backup plan is a must if you want to ensure that your elderly mom or dad is going to continue to receive the same loving care that you or other family members give them.
This is why we recommend only going through a professional in-home care service, and not an agency. With agencies, there’s no guarantee that your caregiver will be trained, or have the expertise needed to administer to your loved one’s unique set of needs. With a service, where caregivers are trained and insured employees, you can be ensured that you are getting the best caregiver for your situation. And always remember that the most trustworthy of services will be honest with you if they are not the right place for you to go for help. These instances do happen, and if it was the safety of your parent, you would want the service you were looking at to tell you that they cannot do everything that is needed.
When your mom or dad has Parkinson’s, caring for them is tough. If you are struggling to do it alone, we urge you to begin looking for professional assistance. Call us to schedule your free in-home care consultation today, or just to learn more about the care solutions that we offer. Hopefully you don’t yet need professional assistance, but if you do, we are here for you and your family.
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