Assisted living can help with some of the most challenging aspects of Parkinson’s disease, including mobility assistance and medication management. Assisted living caregivers also help with the activities of daily living that are difficult for seniors with Parkinson’s, such as bathing and dressing. Some assisted living communities can even help with more advanced care needs, like help eating or providing a mechanical lift to decrease the risk of falls. Here we’ll discuss what to look for in an assisted living community for seniors with Parkinson’s.
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Assisted living communities specialize in helping seniors with their activities of daily living (ADLs), things like bathing, toileting, and grooming. Often, seniors consider assisted living when they need help with at least two ADLs. For seniors with Parkinson’s, their symptoms and disease progression will likely drive this decision. For instance, mobility issues may make it more difficult or time consuming to complete small, yet important, tasks.
Tyson Belanger is the owner of Shady Oaks Assisted Living, a community that offers a higher level of care that can be especially helpful for seniors with Parkinson’s. He notes that while symptoms vary, washing, dressing, and mobility are some of the most common things residents with Parkinson’s need help with.
Parkinson’s disease can put a strain on the resident’s emotions, and most caregivers in assisted living facilities know to give people with Parkinson’s extra emotional and psychological support.
Is assisted living the right fit?
Let our free assessment guide you to the best senior living options, tailored to your needs.
Medications are a key way to alleviate symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Many people with Parkinson’s, particularly seniors, take medications throughout the day to help relieve some motor symptoms associated with Parkinson’s, such as rigidity and difficulty moving.[01] Taking medicines as scheduled can keep symptoms at bay, but missing a dose can lead to something called “off” time.
Off time refers to when Parkinson’s symptoms come back as the medicine wears off, which can happen gradually or suddenly. It’s commonly seen before the first dose of the day and between scheduled doses. The medication administration provided in assisted living can greatly help seniors with Parkinson’s.
“Some people with Parkinson’s take meds five or six times a day,” says Belanger. “This is incredibly complex and exhausting for the senior to have to undertake on their own. Here, the [licensed practical nurses] LPNs can do that because of the background [and] training that they have. Many of them come to us from nursing homes where they’re familiar with that type of care.”
Since dosages of Parkinson’s medications need to be adjusted from time to time, having a log of when the medicines were given can make it easier to see how well a particular medicine is helping. An assisted living facility can help spot when a medication may need to be adjusted.
“Our medical director is in regular contact with our supervising nurse, so if there is a [medication] change that’s needed, we’re able to get that done,” says Belanger.
Given the range of symptoms associated with Parkinson’s disease, experts say developing multidisciplinary care for patients with Parkinson’s is an important first step. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, the five key players in a Parkinson’s care plan should include the following specialists:[02]
Many assisted living communities offer on-site therapies, or can help provide transportation to appointments. Assisted living communities typically have a medical director or registered nurse that helps to guide the caregivers in the community. They make sure each resident is receiving the care they need.
Seniors with Parkinson’s have several dietary needs that assisted living communities can help with. Research highlights three specific dining considerations for people with Parkinson’s:[03]
Belanger notes that you may want to ask prospective communities about your loved one’s future dietary needs as the disease progresses.
“Many people can have trouble swallowing, require special food consistencies, or need help eating food,” he says.
While some assisted living communities offer eating assistance like this, some do not, since this is considered a more advanced form of care. So it’s an important consideration when looking at prospective assisted living communities for your loved one with Parkinson’s.
Parkinson’s can isolate someone socially, leaving them feeling alone and depressed. Almost half of Parkinson’s patients experience depression or anxiety.[02] To prevent feelings of isolation or loneliness, many assisted living communities offer an array of social activities to help residents continue their hobbies or find new passions.
Belanger notes that while residents with Parkinson’s have a wide variety of interests, they often need assistance to get to the activity location. Many assisted living communities will organize access to activities for residents with planning and even transportation if it’s off-site. He notes that one activity does seem to be a favorite among residents with Parkinson’s — music.
“Many residents with Parkinson’s especially value music and singing. It sort of smooths out their conversation and their flow verbally. [It helps them] get the words out,” Belanger says.
There isn’t a specific stage that determines when someone with Parkinson’s needs assisted living. However, Belanger notes two key reasons that signal someone with Parkinson’s may choose it.
“The first is when people need help coordinating their medications and home health therapies. The second is when people begin to fall and struggle with mobility,” he says.
Seeing these signs in your loved one is a good indicator that they would benefit from the support that assisted living can provide.
Deciding when it’s time for assisted living and finding a community that fits your loved one’s needs can be a challenge. Belanger recommends families keep in mind that the disease will progress. He encourages people to consider their loved one’s future needs when looking for a community.
“With respect to Parkinson’s, they must recognize the near inevitability that mobility is going to become a key problem. The risks of falls will increase, perhaps the requirement of using a mechanical lift will happen, and dietary changes will happen,” he says.
Getting a sense of who is on staff at an assisted living community can help you know if a community is a good fit. Some communities are better equipped to help seniors with Parkinson’s through multiple caregivers, mechanical lifts, and having many LPNs and RNs on staff. Other communities may be a good fit for now, but your loved one may need to make another move to a nursing home the future.
Belanger recommends asking the following questions:
Assisted living communities make a good long-term fit for seniors with Parkinson’s when on-site caregiving staff go above and beyond. Communities with these caregiving standards will usually boast that they provide a higher level of care, with specific examples of their high service standards. Things like meal assistance, two-person assists with lifting or a Hoyer lift, and exceeding the minimum staffing requirements are all good signs.
Belanger stresses that seniors with Parkinson’s don’t always have to move to a nursing home — some assisted living communities can help with more advanced Parkinson’s symptoms. If not, other care options may be a better fit, like a care home or in-home care.
Assisted living facilities may not always be an option, especially if facilities in your area don’t offer advanced care services. If that’s the case, there are other options you can explore.
Board and care homes offer comparable types of care to assisted living communities in a much smaller, more residential setting with typically two to 10 residents. Staff in these homes can quickly get to know your loved one’s specialized needs, interests, and personality.
Home care services can sometimes offer specialized Parkinson’s care, with caregiving staff that can help with activities of daily living as well as health care needs inside the home. Meaning, your loved one doesn’t have to leave their current home to get the supervision and assistance they need.
Memory care communities will often cater to seniors with Parkinson’s as well, since it’s considered a neurological disorder with similar symptoms as dementia. It’s common for symptoms of Parkinson’s to overlap with those of dementia. If this is the case for your loved one, a specialized memory care community may be the best fit. Caregivers in these communities receive specialized training to help with neurological disorders and dementia symptoms.
For those with advanced stages of Parkinson’s, nursing homes provide 24-hour care, skilled nursing, or rehabilitation therapy for chronic or debilitating health issues. Nursing homes typically offer some social activities, but their main focus is providing medical care to residents. This level of care may be necessary in the later stages of Parkinson’s when mobility is a bigger challenge and seniors may have difficulty eating by themselves. Nursing homes provide the highest level of care available outside of a hospital setting.
Choosing care, especially for someone with a complex medical condition, can feel overwhelming. Whether you know exactly what you’re looking for in terms of care or are still exploring your options, A Place for Mom can help. Our Senior Living Advisors can work with your family to help you find a local community or care option that meets your needs, budget, and desired lifestyle. Best of all, this comes at no cost to your family.
Key Takeaways
The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. Off time in Parkinson’s disease.
Johns Hopkins Medicine. What to look for in a Parkinson’s care team.
Johns Hopkins Medicine. Fighting Parkinson’s disease with exercise and diet.
Mayo Clinic. (2022, January). Parkinson’s disease.
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