Parkinson's

Our carers have experience working and supporting people living with Parkinson's disease at home. Our home carers have the expertise to adapt to the condition's changing nature. Read our short Parkinson's guide below and look out for the section at the bottom about how to adapt your home for Parkinson's and do contact us on 0208 886 0686 if we can help in anyway. 

• Home Care Guide - Conditions - Episode 1 - Multiple Sclerosis

• Home Care Guide - Conditions - Episode 2 - Dementia

• Home Care Guide - Conditions - Episode 3 - Diabetes

• Home Care Guide - Conditions - Episode 4 - Alzheimer's

• Home Care Guide - Conditions - Episode 5 - Vascular Dementia

• Home Care Guide - Conditions - Episode 6 - Parkinson's

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Outline

Parkinson's disease is condition that physically affects and damages the brain. It is a progressive disease, which means it will gradually get worse over time.

Parkinson's is a rarer form of dementia, It is caused when nerve cells are lost in the substantia nigra area of the brain, this is towards the lower middle of the brain. 

People living with Parkinson's don't have enough of the chemical dopamine because the cells that are lost produce it. 

Dopamine is the chemical that enables messages to be sent to the parts of the brain that manage movement. 

Around 1 in 500 people are estimated to be affected by Parkinson's. 

Symptoms

• There are many different symptoms related to Parkinson's disease. The main symptoms are shaking of parts of the body, known as tremors as well as having stiff muscles and a reduced speed of movement.

Other Physical symptoms related to Parkinson's disease include: Pain

• Bladder and bowel problems

• Muscle cramps

• Foot problems

• Skin problems

• Sweating

• Eye problems

• Low blood pressure

• Sleep difficulties

• Dizziness

• Fatigue/tiredness

• Falls

• Speech and communication difficulties

• Dental problems

• Eating and swallowing

• Control of saliva

• loss of smell

Other symptoms include:

• Depression

• Hallucinations

• Delusions

• Anxiety

• Memory difficulties

• Difficulties with thinking

Care

There isn't currently a cure for Parkinson's disease. There are however treatments and therapies available which can help with the symptoms and help a person living with Parkinson's to live well which include:

• Physiotherapy

• Dietary therapy

• Speech and Language therapy

• Occupational therapy

• Medication

There are alternative therapies that people with Parkinson's use such as art therapy, acupuncture and many others.

You should take medical advice from your GP before beginning any therapies, medications or alternative therapies. Below is a short guide on how to adapt to your home to live well with Parkinson's. 

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How to Adapt Your Home For Parkinson's 

When seeking to adapt your home for living with Parkinson's or in preparation for the onset of Parkinson's a good step is a visit from an Occupational Therapist who can provide expert advice about modifications to the home and equipment. Occupational Therapist visits are free of charge via the NHS.

The Parkinson's Disease Foundation and AgingCare.com recommend the following adjustments, modifications and equipment when caring for those living with Parkinson's. 

General

• - Kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and stairs are main areas of concern

• - Arrange furniture to allow space for comfortable standing, sitting and turning

• - Handrails on both sides of staircase

• - Mark the first/last steps in white in some way for easy recognition

• - Remove or secure loose rugs

• - Carpet - more difficult to navigate with walkers, lifts, canes and wheelchairs and wear more but vinyl and tiles can be slippery and harder if a person falls. Low-pile carpet makes it less likely to get feet stuck in.

• - Consider cleaning bare flooring with non-skid floor wax.

• - Door widening hinges can widen doors by around 2 inches

• - Make sure lamps, as well as table lamps are placed so that they cannot be easily tipped over

• - Objects like floor vases, other objects and side tables are easy to navigate around - where possible remove them or ensure they are placed well out of the way of main walkways

• - Cover sharp edges of countertops and other sharp surfaces with cushioning

• - Keep everything that is needed within easy, remove things that are out of reach.

• - Replace buttons, zips and laces with Velcro

• Kitchen

• - Chopping, sautéing and mixing can be difficult - set up ingredients and kitchen tools in a place where you can sit to prepare food

• - Use plastic mixing bowls to avoid breaks

• - Extra tea-towels to clean up any spill

Gadgets

• - Hot Hand® Protector glove

• - Jar Opener

• - ULU knife

• - Battery/electric operated can openers, peelers, scissors

• - Adaptive handles for toothbrushes, hairbrushes, and combs

• - Special cups and glasses that make them easier to hang on to.

Bedroom

• - Lower floors (to avoid stairs)

• - Rails on side of bed to help with getting in and out

• - Bed pull-up

• - Satin sheets or pyjamas - helpful for turning over and sliding into different positions.

Bathroom

• - Anti-slip/skid socks rather than slippers

• - Bathroom transfer bench - sit down and swing or pull your legs over the side of bath or shower.

• - Shower chair or plastic garden chair and grip bars on the walls

• - Rubber non-slippery bath/shower mats

Later stages of Parkinson's

• - Paint, tape or label taps red or blue to designate hot and cold

• - Remove locks on bathroom doors

• - Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters - shuts off electricity when it detects current going through a person or water.

• - Parkinson's friendly doorknobs

Minor adaptations to the home of up to £1000 are not means tested and can be obtained from the local council. They can also provide any disability equipment too free of charge. Major adaptations up to £30k are means tested.

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Find a Private Carer via Video

At CareChooser we are very excited at the launch of a new way to find a private home carer. You can now meet with our team and carers via video on desktop, tablet or on your phone. We're offering this service free of charge to help you find the carer that's the best fit for your family. The video meets will be available to families searching for quality care at home right across the country and you'll have our support throughout.

If finding the right private carer is proving difficult or you live in a different area to your loved ones, our video meetings could prove to be a great solution for your family. Up to 8 people can meet at a time too meaning multiple family members can have input in the decision to choose the carer. You'll meet with one of our care advisors and the carer where you can get to know and get a really good feel for the carer before choosing which care professional to work with.

If you're interested in meeting our carers and choosing the best the fit for your family via video get in touch with us via one of our get started forms, call us on 0208 886 0686, email us at hello@carechooser.com or use the live chat below and we'll arrange the best time to meet. We can hold a free video consultation together to get a feel for your ideas, concerns and expectations of the care, we'll send you profiles of carers in your area that meet your expectations with details of experience, qualifications, dementia training and more. This can be followed by a free video meet with the carers you choose.

For more information get in touch today. www.carechooser.com or try our premium carer service at www.carechooser.com/premium

Quick Guide to Preventing Falls

Each year 1 in 3 adults over 65 falls with 20-30% of these falls causing moderate to severe injuries. So what steps can we take to help to prevent falls in the home?

1. Remove clutter, organise cables and remove rugs which are a massive trip hazard.

2. Dark or poorly lit areas are a hotspot for falls. Ensure easy to use lamps are by the side of the bed, consider nightlights and brighter bulbs.

3. Furniture. Ensure furniture is tucked back out of the way, in particular side tables. Choose taller furniture with armrests and ensure there is enough space to walk around furniture safely.

4. Choose low heel, comfortable, slip-resistant shoes and ensure they are easy to get on or off.

5. Ensure all items are stored within reach. Items stored in or on cupboards that are either too low or too high create a risk of falling.

6. Bathrooms are a hotspot for falls in the home. Install shower grip bars, add non-slip mats in and outside of the shower and add a raised toilet seat.

CareChooser's advisors are experienced at working on programmes and initiatives to prevent falls. We can come to the home of your loved one make suggestions to help to prevent falls.

Call us on 0208 886 0686, contact us at hello@carechooser.com or use the live chat at www.carechooser.com.

Can a Robot Care?

The BBC today reports that robots could be used to help, support, enhance and complement carers in care homes and those delivering home care. The robots communicate verbally and through gestures and may be able to pick up signs when an elderly person is in pain. 

Softbank Robotics are the Japanese company manufacturing the bots. Similar robots are being used in Japanese hospitals to help lift patients and serve food. 

This got us thinking so many questions... 

Can a robot care? How much could it do? Is it ethically correct? Should we change and future proof the name? CareBotChooser or RobotChooser? How would an elderly person feel about a robot companion? What does a robot made tea taste like? Could it join us in a tea?

We'd love to know what you make of this. Add your questions and comments below.  

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The New Way To Find Care at Home

CareChooser provides a new way for you to find home care. Our home carers can support you and your loved ones for an hour or two or can offer full time live in care. Conversations with us can be started on our website via our live chat application or by telephone, we’re more than happy to offer advice. 

We offer a free home care consultation. Following this, advice will be taken from our medical advisors, who have over 60 years of experience working in the NHS. We’ll then send you profiles of our carers for you to choose from. 

We tailor our aftercare conversations and updates to fit with your preferred channels of communication as well as time and frequency of choice. We offer updates via WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, text message or telephone. 

Call CareChooser on 0208 886 0686, at hello@carechooser.com or why not start a conversation using the live chat application below?

What is Dementia?

Q) What is Dementia?

A) An umbrella term describing the symptoms that are caused when the brain is affected by certain diseases and conditions.

The most common of these is Alzheimer's disease, followed by Vascular Dementia, Fronto-Temporal Dementia and Dementia with Lewy Bodies.

Last week CareChooser completed the Alzheimer's Society's brilliant Dementia Friend training. The training advocates 5 main points which CareChooser pledges to implement in it's home care.

1. Dementia is not a natural part of ageing.
2. Dementia is caused by diesase of the brain.
3. Dementia is not just about memory loss.
4. It is possible to live well with Dementia with support and understanding.
5. There is more to a person that the Dementia.

There IS more to the person than the Dementia. Despite the negative associations, the stigma and the fear surrounding the disease. We need to look past the Dementia and see the person, their life and their acheivements.

Our home carers have a strong understanding of Dementia and can provide help and support to those with the condition to live well.

Dementia friendly activities

Supporting a loved one, diagnosed with dementia to take part in creative, stimulating activities can be hugely beneficial and can encourage independence, communication and social inclusion.

Keeping occupied and stimulated can bring pleasure, help to express feelings, relieve symptoms of anxiety and depression, promote a sense of belonging and can be beneficial for mental and physical health.

Which activities are Dementia friendly?

Everyday tasks such as folding clothes, helping to prepare meals and drinks and laying the table are a simple way to keep loved ones involved and keep them active.

Multi-sensory activities can offer a different way of connecting with a person with Dementia such as planting lavender or mint, baking, playing with colourful, textured objects or with objects that make different sounds.

Drawing, painting and crafts make great activities that everyone can join in with. Gentle exercise and short walks are a great boost for physical well being and remembering happy memories from the past can boost mental well-being and self-esteem.

The Alzheimer’s Society provides Memory Cafes and has ‘Singing for the brain’ sessions which are free to those diagnosed with dementia and can also offer emotional support.

CareChooser has creative carers that are great at connecting and engaging those diagnosed with Dementia in stimulating activities. They can also take some of the strain, giving you back the time you need to spend with your loved one.

How do you make your home Dementia friendly this Christmas?

The Christmas period can be very difficult for those with Dementia and for family members of those with one of the many forms of Dementia.

Loud sounds, lots of people or indeed loneliness can be so difficult and confusing for those with Dementia, so how do you make your home Dementia friendly? Here are CareChooser's 8 small tips to make a difference to your festive period.

1. Provide a quite space or area to retreat to.
2. Give yourself and family members time to enjoy the festive period, is there someone who could help?
3. Leave some lights on during the night.
4. Leave a simple note or label on the doors of rooms to ease confusion
5. Be empathic, make statements rather than questions - 'You are feeling... You want... '
6. 1/3 of people with Dementia have been aggressive, this may be a sign of confusion, pain or communication. Try lowering your body, crouching down, speaking calmly.
7. Use interests and likes to evoke memories.
8. Try to find time for a call or a visit over the festive period.

How we solve the home care crisis.

Home care crisis

Home care is going through something of a crisis, barely a day goes by without a negative news item on our elderly care system. Our team have had first-hand experience of this. From disappointment, disillusion to feeling down, despondent, upset and frustrated.

A Solution

CareChooser was set up with key values in mind to underpin and create a solution to our care crisis. 

Thoughtfulness. Trust. Comfort. Independence. Togetherness.

We would expect, absolutely, that thoughtfulness, trust and comfort be present in all forms of care but are bemused that they quite simply are not. We are putting these values in place as standard. 

Independence and togetherness go hand in hand, we promote a level of independence in all of the people we care for. We focus on the ability of those we care for aiding them to do things no matter how small they may be by themselves, with support where necessary - together.

What does this look like?

Our carers may start and continue a small task and it may be completed by the client enabling them to retain a level of independence and with it self-esteem. Giving the tea a stir, putting the right arm through the shirt, the finishing touches. 

CareChooser focuses on these values; thoughtfulness, trust, comfort, independence and togetherness to create quite a unique level of care.