Parkinson's disease care

At Bupa care homes we can offer specialist facilities, equipment and highly skilled staff to care for those with Parkinson’s disease.

Parkinson’s disease

Parkinson’s disease affects around 120,000 people in the UK, with 10,000 new cases diagnosed every year.

It develops when cells in the brain that control movement start to die off, producing symptoms that range from tremors and muscle stiffness to slowness of movement and difficulty walking, talking, swallowing or writing. For example, someone with Parkinson’s disease may find it difficult to start a physical activity because their body is quite rigid. Then, once they get going, they can speed up and move so fast they almost run out of control.

Although there is no known cure for the disease, there are drugs that can control the severity of the symptoms by compensating for the lack of dopamine - a chemical that acts as a 'signal agent' between the parts of the brain involved in movement and coordination. But looking after those with Parkinson’s disease is not just about drug treatment, there are a wider range of therapies and care that can improve the condition.

A useful source for further information is the Parkinson’s Disease Society. Contact them on 0808 800 0303 or visit their website at www.parkinsons.org.uk.

Specialist staff

Carers working with Parkinson’s residents receive on-the-job training from skilled home managers, and often the Parkinson’s Disease Society.

A carer requires a great deal of understanding and patience. Symptoms often mean that residents who appear fit, able and independent one minute, can become completely incapacitated moments later by a sudden onset of symptoms. Speech problems are common and often mean it can take several minutes for a carer’s ‘good morning’ greeting to be acknowledged.

Our care offers vital support to help people to cope with their condition. For example, our occupational therapists and physiotherapists can make a big difference by helping maintain movement.

Our speech and language specialists can help by offering advice on communication or even swallowing difficulties.

Person-centred care

Each of our residents has their own unique Personal Care Plan, which recognises individual preferences and wishes. The plan documents the individual’s care requirements to ensure that the appropriate care is given at the right time. For example, drugs often need to be given at exactly the right time to suit the residents, rather than the staff. People with Parkinson’s disease need a balanced supply of medicine in their bloodstream to provide good symptom control, but this can vary from one person to another. While one might need their drugs at 5.30am, another might not take them until several hours later. This makes our care unique to most residential or nursing homes, where drug rounds tend to take place at the same time each day. Senior staff have the power to alter the timing of medication in order to best suit the resident’s clinical needs. The actual dosage, however, normally remains in control of the resident’s GP.

Those with Parkinson’s disease also tend to have a higher calorie intake than those without, because the illness affects the rate at which they burn ‘fuel’ and food helps medicine to be absorbed from the stomach into the bloodstream more effectively. We therefore ensure three full meals a day are provided as standard.

We recognise that exercise is especially important for people with Parkinson’s disease and ensure regular activities are planned to help ease muscle and joint stiffness.

Our person-centred care approach means that each resident is respected as an individual and treated with the dignity they deserve at all times.

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Parkinson's disease care