Parkinson’s is one of the most frustrating diseases. It involves a slow decline in physical ability and there is no cure. Even though some of the symptoms can be prevented through treatment, this help is only temporary. Eventually, this disease takes the life of the person who is suffering with it if it is left to progress to its end.
Doctors have been fighting to help those with this disease for years, and although progress has been made, there’s still not an end in sight. One of the more recent attempts to help those with the disease has ended with yet another failure. Researchers found that using blood pressure medications to assist with the treatment of Parkinson’s had no benefit to those with the disease.
Although this might seem like a setback, it’s really only a small one. Parkinson’s is a neurological disease, and blood pressure medications are used to treat cardiovascular disease. There was some conjecture and speculation that these types of drugs might help, when it came to clinical analysis, no benefits were found.
Now that this has been settled, doctors can focus their energies elsewhere, and hopefully make more forward progress to help improve the lives of those that suffer from this disease. Thomas Edison once commented that he did not fail while unsuccessful, but rather found 1,000 ways that did not work. Hopefully, those that are fighting in this arena can adopt a similar attitude.
Hopefully, those of us that provide care for family members or other loved ones with Parkinson’s (or any other disease) will not be discouraged, either. Senior care is a long term commitment, and setbacks will be common. The goal is to not be overwhelmed so that you can provide great care to the people you love.
There’s no cure for Parkinson’s disease, but doctors do have ways of helping those individuals who suffer from this manage their symptoms with greater success. Working closely with a physician who specializes in Parkinson’s and similar diseases is an important first step for your family if you are hoping to give your older loved one the best care possible.
After that, there are many routes that you can go when it comes to care, and these decisions and directions will often be different for each individual situation. Starting with what needs must be addressed by a caregiver, work from there. Find something that meets those needs, but also addresses the wants. This might include things like cost effectiveness, ease of future transitions, transportation, and more. You might find that you have many more options than what you first thought, and you might not need to spend nearly as much as you thought you would need to.
Parkinson’s is a difficult disease because it might seem hopeless. But that’s not the case. People who suffer from this disease do have difficulties and there are definite limitations, but a high quality of life can still be obtained. Work with your doctor and care team to find a solution that works for your family.
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