Archive for the ‘Dementia Care’ Category
Parkinson’s disease attacks the central nervous system and causes problems with body movements, including tremor (weakness), rigidity (muscle tension), muscle movements slow, unstable posture and difficulty walking. This happens when nerve cells (neurons) in a part of the brain called the substantia nigra gradually die.
These cells normally produce a chemical called dopamine that helps transmit messages between brain areas that control body movements. The death of cells in this brain area leads to decreased levels of dopamine, which makes a person with Parkinson’s disease have difficulty controlling muscle tension and muscle movement, both at rest and during periods of activity. Read the rest of this entry »
ESTIMATED MAYO CLINIC:
Does it affect Parkinson’s disease in memory and thinking? My husband of 70 years with the disease shows signs of cognitive impairment.
Response from Dr. J. Eric Ahlskog, Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA:
Unfortunately, Parkinson’s disease not only have tremors and difficulty walking or moving. As a person ages and the longer with the disease could be problems with memory and thinking. These difficulties usually are subtle at first, but could worsen progressively between some Parkinson’s patients. Parkinson’s disease is a nervous system disorder that develops gradually over time. The development of cognitive problems reflect the progressive nature of the course of the disease. In the early stages of the disease, most symptoms such as tremor, muscle rigidity and difficulty with movement, usually are mild and usually can be controlled well with medication. Read the rest of this entry »
Every human will grow old one day, sooner or later. This concept of nature will happen to you too. Right now you are a healthy young adult, but in the next 20 or 30 years, you will feel several changes on your body and mostly, these changes cannot be resisted. When the changes occur, like it or not, you need to have other people help you with your condition. Sometimes the help is only a little such as when you need someone to help you stand up; but sometimes it can be a lot too if you need someone to assist you every day because your disability to remember things, even the smallest one.
Maybe right now you do not suffer this condition. Right now it is your parents who have this situation and they need a lot of care and treatment from people around them. Seeing this condition, of course as a child you want to be there for them all the time, do things for them, and help them pass their old life stage. Some people are able to do this, but if you think you are not able, you must find someone to replace your position, someone who can be there to treat them and accompany them for 24 hours a day.
Finding the right person or institution is not easy because you have to be really sure that your parents are treated well enough and professionally. Dementia Care Portland, however, can be your perfect choice. With them, it is not only about professionalism and service, but it is also about love and affection. There are several special programs you can choose for the needs such as treatment for dementia or memory loss, care and household management program, and the 24 hours care. This way, you can be sure that you have given the best for your parents, even though you are not there to be with them all the time.