Solace Medical

Help for Patients and Caregivers : Parkinson's Disease

What is Parkinson's Disease?
Common Symptoms
What Causes Parkinson's Disease?
Medications
Surgical Treatments

Role of the Patient
Caregiver Information
Additional Information


What is Parkinson's Disease?
Parkinson's disease belongs to a group of conditions called movement disorders. It is both chronic, meaning it persists over a long period of time, and progressive, meaning its symptoms grow worse over time.

Parkinson's disease occurs when a group of cells, in an area of the brain called the substantia nigra, that produce a chemical called dopamine begin to malfunction and eventually die. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter, or chemical messenger, that transports signals to the parts of the brain that control movement initiation and coordination. When Parkinson's disease occurs, for unexplained reasons, these cells begin to die at a faster rate and the amount of dopamine produced in the brain decreases. The four primary symptoms are:

  • tremor of the hands, arms, legs, jaw, and face;
  • rigidity or stiffness of the limbs and trunk;
  • bradykinesia or slowness of movement, and
  • postural instability or impaired balance and coordination.

If you have a question about Parkinson's disease, why not submit it to our medical experts and receive an email reply within 10 working days. To reach 'Ask the Expert', just click here. At this site you can also review our archive of hundreds of answers to questions about Parkinson's listed by category in our "Expert Resource Center".

Visit our "Publications & Videos" section to review a list of print and audio patient materials from the Parkinson's Disease Foundation that are available free of charge, or sign up to receive regular news and updates by mail and email. Click here to sign up.

As many as one million Americans suffer from Parkinson's disease. While approximately 15% of Parkinson's patients are diagnosed before the age of 40, incidence increases with age. The cause is unknown, and although there is presently no cure, there are many treatment options such as medication and surgery to manage the symptoms.
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Common Symptoms?
The symptoms vary from patient to patient and not every one is affected by all of them. In some people, the disease progresses quickly; in others it does not. The following are the most common primary symptoms of Parkinson's disease.

Tremor: In the early stages of the disease, about 70% of people experience a slight tremor in the hand or foot on one side of the body, or less commonly in the jaw or face. It appears as a 'beating' or oscillating movement and is regular (4-6 beats per second). Because tremor usually appears when the muscles are relaxed, it is called "resting tremor." This means that the affected body part trembles when it is at rest and not doing work and often subsides with action. The tremor often spreads to the other side of the body as the disease progresses, but remains most apparent on the original side of occurrence.

Rigidity: Rigidity or increased muscle tone means stiffness or inflexibility of the muscles. Normally muscles contract when they move, and then relax when they are at rest. In rigidity, the muscle tone of an affected limb is stiff. Rigidity can result in a decreased range of motion. For example a patient may not swing his or her arms when walking. Rigidity can also cause pain and cramps at the muscle site.

Bradykinesia: Bradykinesia is a slowing of voluntary movement. In addition to slow movements, a person with bradykinesia will likely also have incompleteness of movement, difficulty in initiating movements, and arrests of ongoing movement. Patients may begin to walk with short, shuffling steps (festination), which, combined with other symptoms such as loss of balance, increases the incidence of falls. They may also experience difficulty making turns or abrupt movements. They may go through periods of "freezing," which is when the patient is stuck and finds it difficult to stop or start walking. Bradykinesia and rigidity can occur in the facial muscles, causing a "mask-like" expression with little or no movement of the face. The slowness and incompleteness of movement can also affect speaking and swallowing.

There are many secondary symptoms of Parkinson's disease. These include stooped posture, a tendency to lean forward or backward, and speech problems, such as softness of voice or slurred speech caused by lack of muscle control. Non-motor symptoms also impact the life of a person with Parkinson's. A survey published in October 2003, "The Impact of Parkinson's Disease on Quality of Life" revealed that two of the top three most disabling symptoms for people with Parkinson's are non-motor symptoms, including loss of energy and pain. To review the results of this survey go to: http://www.amarinpharma.com/.

The following is a list of secondary symptoms of Parkinson's disease:

  • Speech changes
  • Loss of facial expression
  • Micrographia (small, cramped handwriting)
  • Difficulty swallowing
  • Drooling
  • Pain
  • Dementia or confusion
  • Sleep disturbances
  • Constipation
  • Skin problems
  • Depression
  • Fear or anxiety
  • Memory difficulties and slowed thinking
  • Sexual dysfunction
  • Urinary problems
  • Fatigue and aching
  • Loss of energy
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What Causes Parkinson's Disease?
Why an individual develops Parkinson's disease remains undetermined. The causes likely include both genetic and environmental factors. A variety of mechanisms that are believed to cause accelerated cell death have also been suggested, including oxidative stress, excitotoxicity and mitochondrial dysfunction. These are described below.

  • Genetics    About 15-25% of Parkinson's patients report having a relative with Parkinson's. Researchers have found a defective gene in some rare families, with a high incidence of Parkinson's disease. These rare cases have an inherited form of Parkinson's disease. Scientists have discovered several "Parkinson's genes" and there is conclusive evidence that genetics play a role in at least some patients. There appears to be a 2-3 fold increased risk of PD in first degree relatives compared to matched control populations. However, the majority of cases of PD still appear to be sporadic.
  • Environmental Factors    Some scientists have suggested that Parkinson's disease may occur when a toxin selectively destroys dopaminergic neurons. Scientists have known for a number of years of several toxins that can cause Parkinson's-like symptoms, such as MPTP. Several studies have suggested a link between rural living, herbicide use and exposure to pesticides as possible factors that may contribute to a person's developing Parkinson's. Some PWP's recall a time when they were exposed to chemicals, and believe this exposure may be a possible cause. Scientists are continuing to pursue these clues to establish more concrete linkages.

While the debate concerning environmental factors and genetics as causative factors in PD continues, there has been extensive investigation of the mechanisms involved in the cell death process. A number of cell death concepts have been put forward including, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction and excitotoxicity.

  • Oxidative damage    This theory suggests that free radicals - unstable molecules whose toxic effects are believed to be caused by oxidation - may contribute to cell death, thereby leading to Parkinson's disease. Oxidation is thought to cause damage to tissues, including neurons. In addition, antioxidant defenses appear to be markedly reduced in PD brains. In particular, reduced levels of glutathione (an acid which plays a role in the detoxification of harmful compounds) have been discovered. The cause of the deficiency and the potential role that antioxidants like glutathione play in the development of PD remain unresolved.
  • Mitochondrial dysfunction    The mitochondria are small bodies within cells that produce energy. They can be described as the 'power-house' of the cell. Scientific findings indicate a reduction in the function of mitochondria and this may play a role in PD.
  • Excitotoxicity    occurs when selected neurotransmitters in the brain get out of balance leading to cell death. This mechanism has been documented in Parkinson's and scientists believe that glutamate excitotoxicity is the main culprit within this mechanism. Finding a way to correct this imbalance may prevent be neuroprotective.
Most experts in the field share the opinion that Parkinson's is caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors, and other contributing mechanisms of cell death. For regular updates on scientific discoveries about Parkinson's disease, see the PDF "Science Bulletin" in our News section of the PDF website by clicking here. Or subscribe to the "PDF News" our quarterly newsletter. To subscribe, click here.
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Medications for Parkinson's Disease
There are several symptomatic treatments for people with Parkinson's including medication, surgery, and physical therapy. The degree of success of each treatment varies among individuals, as does the length of time the treatment option remains effective.

Levodopa is a dopamine precursor, a substance that is converted into dopamine by an enzyme in the brain. The use of levodopa was a breakthrough in the treatment of PD. Unfortunately, patients experienced debilitating side effects, including severe nausea and vomiting. With increased dosing and prolonged use of levodopa, patients experienced other side effects including dyskinesias (spontaneous, involuntary movements) and "on-off" periods when the medication will suddenly start or stop working.

Check with a doctor before taking any of the following to avoid possible interactions: antacids, anti-seizure drugs, anti-hypertensives, anti-depressants and high protein food.

Combining Levodopa with Carbidopa (Sinemet) represented a significant improvement in the treatment of Parkinson's disease. The addition of carbidopa prevents levodopa from being metabolized in the gut, liver and other tissues, and allows more of it to get to the brain. Therefore, a smaller dose of levodopa is needed to treat symptoms. In addition, the severe nausea and vomiting often associated with levodopa treatment was greatly reduced.

Consult a doctor before taking any medications to avoid possible interactions. In particular, antacids, anti-seizure drugs, anti-hypertensives, anti-depressants and high protein food may adversely affect the function of Levodopa/carbidopa.

Stalevo (carbidopa, levodopa and entacapone) is a new (September 2003) combination tablet for patients who experience signs and symptoms of end-of-dose "wearing-off." The tablet combines carbidopa/levodopa (the most widely used agent for PD), with entacapone. While carbidopa reduces the side effects of levodopa, entacapone extends the time levodopa is active in the brain (up to 10 percent longer). The same drugs that interact with carbidopa/levodopa and entacapone interact with Stalevo.

Symmetrel (amantadine hydrochloride) is thought to work in PD because it has several actions. It activates both the release of dopamine from storage sites and possibly blocks the re-uptake of dopamine into nerve terminals. It also has a glutamate receptor blocking activity. Its dopaminergic actions result in its usefulness in reducing dyskinesia induced by levodopa. It is thus called an indirect-acting dopamine agonist, and is widely used as an early monotherapy (treatment of a condition by means of a single drug), with the more powerful Sinemet added when needed. Unfortunately, its benefit in more advanced PD is often short-lived, with patients reporting a fall-off effect.d

Symmetrel may interact with Cogentin (benztropine), Disipal (orphenadrine), Sinemet (levodopa), Artane (trihexyphenidyl), amphetamines and alcohol.

Anticholinergics (trihexyphenidyl, benztropine mesylate, procyclidine, etc.) do not act directly on the dopaminergic system. Instead they act to decrease the activity of another neurotransmitter, acetylcholine. There is a complex interaction between levels of acetylcholine in the brain and levels of dopamine. Many clinicians find that if an agonist or levodopa does not relieve tremor, then the addition of an anticholinergic drug is often effective. Adverse effects include blurred vision, dry mouth and urinary retention. These drugs may be contraindicated in older patients since they can cause confusion and hallucination.d

Check with a doctor before using anticholinergics with anti-histamines, Haldol, Thorazine, Symmetrel, Clozaril and alcohol.

Selegiline or deprenyl (Eldepryl) has been shown to delay the need for Sinemet when prescribed in the earliest stage of PD, and has also been approved for use in later stages to boost the effects of Sinemet. Eldepryl may interact with anti-depressants, narcotic pain killers and decongestants. Check with a doctor before taking any new medications.

Dopamine agonists are drugs that activate dopamine receptors directly, and can be taken alone or in combination with Sinemet. Agonists available in the United States include bromocriptine (Parlodel), pergolide (Permax), pramipexole (Mirapex) and ropinirole (Requip).

Consult a doctor before taking any of the following to avoid possible interactions: alcohol, anti-psychotics, medications that lower blood pressure, Navane (thiothixene), Taractan (chlorprothixene), Haldol (haloperidol), Reglan (metoclopramide), phenothiazines, thiozanthenes, cimetidine, phenothiazines, butyrophenones, Cipro and benzodiazepines.

COMT inhibitors such as tolcapone (Tasmar) and entacapone (Comtan) represent a different class of Parkinson's medications. These drugs must be taken with levodopa. They prolong the duration of symptom relief by blocking the action of an enzyme which breaks down levodopa.

*** Side Effects from Medications - Like the symptoms of PD themselves, the side effects caused by Parkinson's medications vary from patient to patient. They may include dry mouth, nausea, dizziness, confusion, hallucinations, drowsiness, insomnia, and other unwelcome symptoms. Some patients experience no side effects from a drug, while others may have to discontinue its use because of them.

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Surgical Treatments
Surgery is an option for patients to explore after they have had experience with medications and are no longer satisfied with the results. A patient should discuss surgery thoroughly with his or her neurologist before making any decision.

Two older, and somewhat outdated, lesioning procedures that provide relief from Parkinson's symptoms are pallidotomy and thalamotomy. Pallidotomy can alleviate rigidity and bradykinesia symptoms, and thalamotomy helps to control tremors. Doctors rarely perform either procedure because both permanently destroy parts of the brain and have serious side effects. The damage could make it impossible to perform surgeries that may become available in the future, such as brain tissue transplants.

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) , a safer and more effective surgery, has replaced these methods. It is a preferred surgical option because it has the same, if not better results than pallidotomy and thalamotomy. DBS also leaves open the possibility of other therapies, should they become available in the future. As with any surgical procedure, there are risks and side effects. The main benefit of DBS surgery is to reduce motor fluctuations i.e. the ups and downs caused by a decreasing effectiveness of Sinemet.

The electrode is usually placed on one side of the brain. The DBS electrode implanted in the left side of the brain will control the symptoms on the right side of the body and vice versa. In some cases, patients will need to have stimulators on both sides of the brain.

During surgery, a device is implanted to provide an electrical impulse to a part of the brain involved in motor function. This is often the subthalamic nucleus, in a deep part of the brain called the thalamus. During the procedure, electrodes are inserted into the targeted brain region using MRI and neurophysiological mapping to ensure that they are implanted in the right place. The electrodes are connected to wires that lead to an impulse generator or IPG (similar to a pacemaker) that is placed under the collarbone and beneath the skin. Patients have a controller, which allows them to verify whether the DBS is 'on' or 'off'. They can use this device to check the battery and to turn the device 'on' or 'off'. An IPG battery lasts for about 3 to 5 years and is relatively easy to replace under local anesthesia.

Patients considering one or another surgical procedure should discuss the options first with their movement disorder specialists and then with their families and/or caregivers.

For more information on DBS, order from PDF our comprehensive booklet "Surgery for Parkinson's Disease", written by our medical advisor Dr. Blair Ford. To order your free copy, send a request by email to info@pdf.org. Or you can get information on the web by visiting these sites:

www.medtronic.com/UK/patients/neuro/brain_stimulation.html
www.clevelandclinic.org/neuroscience/treat/movement/dbs.htm
www.rewiredforlife.org
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Role of the Patient
Treating Parkinson's disease is not exclusively the doctor's job; there is much the individual can do to stay as well as possible for as long as possible. Regular exercise, being part of a support group, maintaining a healthy diet or taking part in a clinical trial are just some of the things you might consider.

Exercise: For people with Parkinson's, regular exercise and/or physical therapy are essential for maintaining and improving mobility, flexibility, balance, and a range of motion, and for warding off many of the secondary symptoms mentioned above. Exercise is as important as medication for the management of PD.

Support groups: For many people, these groups play an important role in the emotional well-being of patients and families. They provide a caring environment for asking questions about Parkinson's, for laughing and crying and sharing stories and getting advice from other sufferers, and for forging friendships with people who understand each other's problems.

Diet: There is no specific diet to prevent or slow Parkinson's but there are several suggestions to help manage the disease. A vegetable-rich diet may aid digestion and prevent constipation. Parkinson's patients should also take a balanced approach to protein intake because protein inhibits the absorption of levodopa in the gut. Avoiding high protein meals when taking levodopa helps prevent this potential problem. However, a patient should not make dietary changes without discussing this first with their doctor. Parkinson's disease nutrition author, Kathrynne Holden, offers several books, including "Eat Well, Stay Well" and "Cook Well, Stay Well" that provide beneficial eating and cooking tips. Copies can be ordered from Five Star Living, on (877) 565-2665 or at www.nutritionucanlivewith.com.

A Healthy Patient/Doctor Relationship: A neurologist can most effectively help a patient manage his or her Parkinson's if the neurologist and the patient have a good working relationship. Doctors need the patient to be honest, forthright, and inquisitive in order to give the best medical attention possible. Patients should also require that a doctor treat them in the same honest, open manner, engaging them in dialogue about the patient's experiences. Doctors can provide a wealth of information and suggestions for improving quality of life.

Physical, Speech and/or Occupational Therapy: These therapies can help Parkinson's patients control their symptoms and make daily life easier. Physical therapy may increase muscle strength and flexibility and decrease the incidence of falls. Speech therapy is available to increase voice volume and assist with word pronunciation. The Lee Silverman technique is a special speech therapy that can be very beneficial to people with Parkinson's - for further information see www.lsvt.org.

Occupational therapy affords patients alternative methods of doing tasks that they can no longer perform with ease. These options may give patients a stronger sense of control when living with Parkinson's disease, which seems to take control from them. The patient should ask a physician for recommendations if he or she does not provide them. These therapies may or may not be covered by insurance.

Clinical Trials: Getting involved in a clinical trial may be a way for a patient to feel empowered and help researchers understand more about Parkinson's disease in order to improve treatment options for this disorder. Increased clinical trial participation will result in a better understanding of the disease and will also help treatments that are in the research and developmental phases reach patients more quickly. A patient should understand what the trial entails and be educated about the patient's responsibilities and obligations. To find more information on the patient's role in clinical trials, visit www.ninds.nih.gov/parkinsonsweb/clinical_trials_info.htm.

For information on Parkinson's disease clinical trials, visit:
www.clinicaltrials.gov
www.centerwatch.com

To participate in an important survey about clinical trials, please click here.

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PD Caregiver Well-Being

What can friends and family of a person with Parkinson's do?

  • Stay educated about the person's condition and abilities and adapt accordingly.
  • Support environment and lifestyle changes that often need to be made by a person with Parkinson's disease.
  • Encourage medical consultation with a physician.
  • Request a referral for occupational therapy from a family physician to promote maximal capabilities in self-care, household tasks, and valued life activities.

Physical Health
Caregiving can be physically and emotionally draining, especially when caregiving duties are demanding and constant. PD caregivers provided an average of 96 hours of care per week to their care recipients. The vast majority (73%) reported significant health problems. The most prevalent health problems reported involved arthritis (27%), self-reported depression (26%), high blood pressure (23%), and heart trouble (15%). One-third of PD caregivers reported their overall health as fair (28%) or poor (5%), while nearly half of caregivers (46%) stated their health troubles were standing in the way of assuming an expanded caregiving role. Forty-eight percent stated their current health status was worse at the time of assessment than it had been five years earlier. One in five caregivers (20%) had at least three medical exams in the last six months.

Mental Health
PD caregivers experienced high levels of depression as illustrated by an average score of 19.88 on the CES-D3. In fact, 60% of this group scored 16 or higher on the CES-D questionnaire (26% of PD caregivers self-reported depression was a current health problem). Among PD caregivers, women scored significantly higher than men (t = -2.72, p< .01). Interestingly, depression scores did not differ significantly by ethnicity, but did differ by type of relationship between the caregiver and care recipient, albeit not significantly. Mothers and daughters of care recipients scored the highest of all relationship groups on the CES-D (34.5 and 22.0, respectively). PD caregivers were significantly more likely to demonstrate higher depression scores if their care recipients needed supervision with performing personal care tasks compared with PD.

3 Score of 16 or higher on the CES-D demonstrates evidence of clinically significant depressive symptoms. caregivers reporting other functional needs. Additionally, PD caregivers who reported their loved ones were either forgetting what day it was or were being argumentative or irritable, were significantly more likely to score high on the CES-D respectively than PD caregivers whose care recipient did not report these behaviors.

PD Caregiver Strain
More than one-third (38%) of PD caregivers reported the informal help and social support they were receiving was far less than they needed. When asked how burdened they felt in caring for their relatives, 28% of PD caregivers reported feeling “quite a bit” burdened while 16% reported feeling “extremely” burdened. Another 31% of PD caregivers reported feeling “moderately” burdened.

Perception of role
Generally, PD caregivers reported feeling confident in their caregiving role, as demonstrated by an average competency score of 21.4 out of a possible 27. A relatively small percent of caregivers responded “not at all” when asked if they know where and how to request help from others (12%). A majority of caregivers felt that they “somewhat” or “very much” received the emotional support they needed (81%) and were able to develop ways to manage the stresses of caregiving (83%).

Identified PD Caregiver Problems at Assessment
CRC Family Consultants reported the most common problems for PD caregivers at assessment were the need for respite (85%), emotional support (83%), and behavior management (32%). Figure 5 presents the current problems of PD caregivers upon completion of an assessment.

Services Planned for PD Caregivers

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American Parkinson Disease Association
1250 Hylan Blvd.
Suite 4B
Staten Island, NY 10305-1946
apda@apdaparkinson.org
http://www.apdaparkinson.org
Tel: 718-981-8001
800-223-2732
Calif: 800-908-2732
Fax: 718-981-4399

National Parkinson Foundation
1501 N.W. 9th Avenue
Bob Hope Research Center
Miami, FL  33136-1494
mailbox@parkinson.org
http://www.parkinson.org
Tel: 305-243-6666
800-327-4545
Fla: 800-433-7022
Fax: 305-243-5595

Parkinson Alliance
P.O. Box 308
Kingston, NJ 08528-0308
admin@parkinsonalliance.net
http://www.parkinsonalliance.net
Tel: 609-688-0870
800-579-8440
Fax: 609-688-0875

Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research
Grand Central Station
P.O. Box 4777
New York, NY 10163
http://www.michaeljfox.org
Tel: 212-509-0995

Parkinson's Action Network (PAN)
1000 Vermont Ave. N.W.
Suite 900
Washington, DC  20005
info@parkinsonsaction.org
http://www.parkinsonsaction.org
Tel: 800-850-4726 202-842-4101
Calif: 707-544-1994
Fax: 202-842-4105

Parkinson's Disease Foundation (PDF)
710 West 168th Street
New York, NY 10032-9982
info@pdf.org
http://www.pdf.org
Tel: 212-923-4700
800-457-6676
Fax: 212-923-4778

Parkinson's Institute
1170 Morse Avenue
Sunnyvale, CA 94089-1605
outreach@parkinsonsinstitute.org
http://www.parkinsonsinstitute.org
Tel: 408-734-2800
800-786-2958
Fax: 408-734-8522

Parkinson's Resource Organization
74-090 El Paseo
Suite 102
Palm Desert, CA 92260-4135
info@parkinsonsresource.org
http://www.parkinsonsresource.org
Tel: 760-773-5628
310-476-7030
877-775-4111
Fax: 760-773-9803

Worldwide Education & Awareness for Movement Disorders (WE MOVE)
204 West 84th Street
New York, NY 10024
wemove@wemove.org
http://www.wemove.org
Tel: 800-437-MOV2 (6682)
212-875-8312
Fax: 212-875-8389

Bachmann-Strauss Dystonia & Parkinson Foundation
Mt. Sinai Medical Center One Gustave L. Levy Place
P.O. Box 1490
New York, NY 10029
Bachmann.Strauss@mssm.edu
http://www.dystonia-parkinsons.org
Tel: 212-241-5614
Fax: 212-987-0662

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CAREGIVER TIPS & INFORMATION:
  • 10 Tips for Family Caregivers
  • Find a Doctor
  • Information on Seating & Mobility
  • Tips for Family Caregivers from Doctors
  • Care Management Techniques You Can Use
  • Compare Home Health Agencies in Your Area
  • Additional Resources

 


10 Tips for Family Caregivers.
1. Caregiving is a job and respite is your earned right. Reward yourself with respite breaks often.
2. Watch out for signs of depression, and don’t delay in getting professional help when you need it.
3. When people offer to help, accept the offer and suggest specific things that they can do.
4. Educate yourself about your loved one’s condition and how to communicate effectively with doctors.
5. There’s a difference between caring and doing. Be open to technologies and ideas that promote your loved one’s independence.
6.Trust your instincts. Most of the time they’ll lead you in the right direction.
7. Caregivers often do a lot of lifting, pushing, and pulling. Be good to your back.
8. Grieve for your losses, and then allow yourself to dream new dreams.
9. Seek support from other caregivers. There is great strength in knowing you are not alone.
10. Stand up for your rights as a caregiver and a citizen.
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Tips for Family Caregivers from Doctors

  • Write questions down so you won’t forget them
  • Be clear about what you want to say to the doctor. Try not to ramble.
  • If you have lots of things to talk about, make a consultation appointment, so the doctor can allow enough time to meet with you in an unhurried way.
  • Educate yourself about your loved one’s disease or disability. With all the information on the Internet it is easier than ever before.
  • Learn the routine at your doctor’s office and/or the hospital so you can make the system work for you, not against you.
  • Recognize that not all questions have answers—especially those beginning with “why.”
  • Separate your anger and sense of impotence about not being able to help your loved one as much as you would like from your feeling about the doctor. Remember, you are both on the same side.
  • Appreciate what the doctor is doing to help and say thank you from time to time.
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Care Management Techniques You Can Use
Did you ever wish you could just pick up the phone and call someone who would take stock of your situation, help you access the right services, counsel you and your family to help resolve some of your differences, then monitor your progress with an eye toward channeling your energy and abilities as effectively as possible? If your answer is “yes,” you’re not alone. Having the help of a care coordinator (often called a care manager) could make all of our lives easier and less lonesome, and help us be more capable family caregivers. While most of us may not have access to a care coordinator, we can all learn how to think and act like one, thereby reaping numerous benefits for our loved ones and ourselves.

What Is Care Coordination?
Although every case is different, the care coordination approach usually involves:

  • Gathering information from healthcare providers;
  • An assessment of your care recipient and the home environment;
  • Research into available public and/or private services and resources to meet your loved one’s needs; and
  • Ongoing communication between all parties to keep information up-to-date and services appropriate and effective.

Unfortunately, an assessment of your abilities and needs is not necessarily a standard part of the process, but it should be. A complete view of the situation cannot be gained without one. An objective analysis of your health, emotional state, other commitments, etc., are key elements in determining how much you can and cannot do yourself, and what type of outside support is needed to ensure your loved one’s health and safety.

Become Your Own Care Coordinator
By learning and applying at least some of the care coordination techniques and ideas that follow, you’ll be in a much better position to develop an organized course of action that will, hopefully, make you feel more confident and in control — a goal well worth working toward.

Educate yourself on the nature of the disease or disability with which you’re dealing. Reliable information is available from the health agency that deals with your loved one’s condition and the National Institutes of Health. When using the Internet, stick with well-known medical sites. Understanding what is happening to your care recipient will provide you with the core knowledge you need to go forward. It will also make you a better advocate when talking with healthcare professionals.

Write down your observations of the present situation including:
  • Your loved one’s ability to function independently, both physically and mentally.
  • The availability of family and/or friends to form a support network to share the care.
  • The physical environment: Is it accessible or can it be adapted at reasonable cost?
  • Your other responsibilities — at work, at home, and in the community.
  • Your own health and physical abilities.
  • Your financial resources, available insurance, and existence of healthcare or end-of-life documents.

This assessment will help you come to a realistic view of the situation. It will let you know the questions to which you need answers. It can be a handy baseline for charting your caregiving journey and reminding you just how much you’ve learned along the way.

Hold a family conference. At least everyone in the immediate family should be told what’s going on. A meeting can set the stage for divvying up responsibilities so that there are fewer misunderstandings down the road when lots of help may be needed. A member of the clergy, a professional care coordinator, or even a trusted friend can serve as an impartial moderator. A family meeting is a good way to let everyone know they can play a role, even if they are a thousand miles away. It can help you, the primary family caregiver, from bearing the brunt of all the work all of the time.

Keep good records of emergency numbers, doctors, daily medications, special diets, back-up people, and other pertinent information relating to your loved one’s care. Update as necessary. This record will be invaluable if something happens to you, or if you need to make a trip to the ER. If you can maintain a computer-based record, that will make updating all that much easier and it might even allow you to provide the medical team with direct access to the information.

Join a support group, or find another caregiver with whom to converse. In addition to emotional support, you’ll likely pick up practical tips as well. Professionals network with each other all the time to get emotional support and find answers to problems or situations they face. Why shouldn’t family caregivers?

Start advance planning for difficult decisions that may lie ahead. It’s never too early to discuss wills, advance directives, and powers of attorney, but there comes a time when it is too late. It is also vital that you and your loved one think through what to do if you should be incapacitated, or, worse, die first. It can happen.

Develop a care team to help out during emergencies, or over time if your situation is very difficult. In an ideal world there will be lots of people who want to help. More likely you’ll be able to find one or two people to call on in an emergency or to help with small chores. The critical thing is to be willing to tell others what you need and to accept their help.

Establish a family regimen. When things are difficult to begin with, keeping a straightforward daily routine can be a stabilizer, especially for people who find change upsetting and confusing.

Approach some of your hardest caregiving duties like a professional. It’s extraordinarily difficult to separate your family role from your caregiving role, to lock your emotions up in a box while you focus on practical chores and decisions. But it is not impossible to gain some distance some of the time. It requires an almost single-minded approach to getting the job at hand done as efficiently and effectively as possible. It takes practice, but is definitely worth the effort.

©National Family Caregivers Association | www.nfcacares.org | Phone: 800/896-3650

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Seating & Mobility - As a caregiver, you need to be very understanding to the individual's needs. This is a very hard time as they are being told they need to start living their life in a different manor than they had done so previously. It will be most beneficial to educate them, either with a professional, or through a support group. By becoming involved in different activities with others in the same condition, the individual will be able to make the transition much easier. As far as the actual device, you will want to make sure that the individual is fully capable of performing all the operations of the mobility device and can do so in a comfortable manner. Areas to pay close attention to include an adjustable backrest, a suspension system, a fore-and-aft track adjustment, an up-and-down seat adjustment, an armrest and/or footrest, and lumbar region support.

How do you care for your mobility device?

The most important areas that you need to pay attention to are referred to as the 3 B’s…Bad batteries, bent wheel rims and failed bearings. If you notice something that doesn’t seem right, but it isn’t all too annoying, you should still get it looked at right away. This could prevent a more severe accident from happening. So as the saying goes “it’s better to be safe than sorry”.

When a wheelchair is purchased, you will want to make sure that all the correct adjustments and modifications are made. This needs to be done by a professional and should take up to a couple of hours if done correctly. As long as the proper measures are taken initially, the work of maintaining the device will be substantially easier.
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Additional Resources

It's always wise to find out what your county and state have to offer in the way of services, even if you think you won't qualify for them. Check the blue pages of your phone book for the numbers, or go on line. Counties and states all have web sites. Type the name of your state or county and state into any major search engine i.e. Iowa, or Montgomery County, PA. Navigate from there to locate the Department of Health and Human Services and the specific office most relevant to your needs, such as office on disabilities, elder affairs, or maternal and child health.

Other good sources of information include your local hospital or clinic (social work department), area adult day centers, social service and faith-based agencies, and/or the local chapter of the health agency that focuses on your loved one's condition. It is by no means certain that any of these will offer caregiver support services, but they are good places to check, and they are good sources for information about services to directly support your loved one.

National Family Caregivers Association
10400 Connecticut Avenue, Suite 500
Kensington, MD 20895
800-896-3650
Web site: http://www.thefamilycaregiver.org
e-mail: info@thefamilycaregiver.org

The National Family Caregivers Association (NFCA) is a grassroots organization created to educate, support, empower, and advocate for the millions of Americans who care for chronically ill, aged, or disabled loved ones. NFCA is the only constituency organization that reaches across the boundaries of different diagnoses, different relationships, and different life stages to address the common needs and concerns of all family caregivers. NFCA serves as a public voice for family caregivers to the press, to Congress and the general public. NFCA offers publications, information, referral services, caregiver support, and advocacy.

Caregiver-Specific Web Sites
There are a variety of Web sites that offer information and support for family caregivers, in addition to those from specific organizations.

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