Getting to grips with Parkinson’s Disease
Review spoke to a local caretaker to find out more about the disease and how best to take care of those who suffer from it.
POLOKWANE – Tuesday, 11 July was World Parkinson’s Disease (PD) Day.
Review spoke to a local caretaker to find out more about the disease and how best to take care of those who suffer from it.
According to Sonja Hattingh, few people understand the disease or that it affects different people in different ways.
“Friends and family members who have less contact with the person with Parkinson’s often underestimate the severity of symptoms as well as the level of caregiver burden they need to for fill,” Hattingh explains. PD is a chronic and progressive movement disorder of the central nervous system that affects movement, often including tremors.
She says providing physical care to someone with advanced PD and simple activities such as re-positioning the patient or helping them bathe can be exhausting and even cause physical injury to the caregiver.
“When the disease becomes more and more serious, they need more care and the disease will have an impact on all aspects of their lives,” Hattingh said.
According to Hattingh, it is important to find out as much as you can about the disease and how to care for patients with PD in order to care for them on a physical and emotional level. She urges people to ensure they can identify the signs of PD and prepare for the after effects on the patient and their family.
A video that sheds light on caring for patients with PD:
Youtube video via National Parkinson Foundation
