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Author: Ralph Johnson

One of our Home Helpers caregivers assists a 77-year-old gentleman with Parkinson’s disease (PD). She has reported to our admin team that she never knows what she’s going to contend with when she arrives for her shift.

As the stages of Parkinson’s Disease (PD) advance, it becomes more difficult or downright impossible for sufferers to manage activities of daily living like personal care, medication management, and meal planning and preparation.

April is Parkinson’s Disease Awareness Month, making it the perfect time to learn more about PD, courtesy of the Illinois Chapter of the American Parkinson’s Disease Association, and review 5 daily guidelines for caregivers to seniors with Parkinson’s disease, thanks to WebMD.

What is Parkinson’s Disease?

Parkinson’s disease is a type of movement disorder that impacts one’s ability to perform common, daily activities. It is a chronic and progressive disease, meaning the symptoms worsen over time.

An estimated 1 million people in the U.S. live with Parkinson’s disease, and more than 10 million people worldwide. Most people who develop the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease do so sometime after age 50, but Parkinson’s disease can affect younger persons as well. Approximately 10% of Parkinson’s diagnoses occur before age 50—these diagnoses are called Early Onset (or Young Onset) Parkinson’s disease.

PD is characterized by its most common of motor symptoms—tremors (a form of rhythmic shaking), stiffness or rigidity of the muscles, and slowness of movement (called bradykinesia)—but also manifests in non-motor symptoms including sleep problems, constipation, anxiety, depression, and fatigue, among others.

“When you're a caregiver for someone with Parkinson's disease, some days you'll need to help them with daily tasks. Other days, you just need to give them enough time to do them on their own. This checklist can make life easier for both of you,” explains WebMD.

Grooming

• Make it easy for them. Try an electric toothbrush if their hands or fingers are stiff from Parkinson's. If you help with flossing or brushing, try not to touch the back of their tongue to prevent their gagging. Keep a small towel handy if drooling is an issue.
• An electric shaver may make shaving easier. After shaving, have them use lotion instead of aftershave, which may be too harsh.

Bathing

• For safety and comfort, use the shower, if possible. Tub baths can be a falling hazard.
• While they are bathing, have them sit on a shower stool, use a hand-held showerhead, and hold a grab bar.
• Sometimes Parkinson's causes dandruff. If it does, use a little shampoo with mild coal tar or salicylic acid, and rinse their hair well.
• Wrap them up in an absorbent terry cloth robe after bathing. Then they don't have to dry themselves off with a towel.

Getting Dressed

• Make sure clothes are easy to put on, such as pants with elastic waistbands, bras that hook in front, and tube socks instead of dress socks. Skip pantyhose and clothes that pull on over the head. If their favorite clothes have buttons, replace them with Velcro.
• Avoid shoes with rubber soles. They can cause tripping.
• Make dressing simple. Lay out clothes ahead of time, in the order they like to put them on. Offer dressing aids like buttonhooks or long-handled shoehorns.
• Let them dress themself as much as possible. Suggest that they sit down and dress on the side most affected first.

Eating

• Serve fiber -- like whole grains, bran cereals, fruits, and vegetables -- to prevent constipation, a common Parkinson's issue. If they are used to a low-fiber diet, add fiber slowly.
• Serve a calcium-rich food at least three times a day to prevent osteoporosis. This is a special concern with a person with Parkinson's, because falls that can lead to fractures are more likely. Dairy foods like cheese and vitamin D-fortified milk and yogurt are good choices.
• The Parkinson's drug levodopa is absorbed best on an empty stomach. Protein can decrease its absorption. So, space out proteins so they are served after they take their medicine, which may be every 3-4 hours. 
• If they have trouble swallowing, fix moist, soft foods. Avoid foods that crumble easily, like crackers. Thick drinks, like protein shakes, are also easy to swallow. If eating is tiring, fix smaller meals more often.

Activities

• Don't let their symptoms discourage participating in activities. Specially adapted tools are available to help with things like holding a paintbrush. Their occupational therapist can also suggest strategies. If some hobbies become too hard, like playing a musical instrument, go to a concert, or listen to music, instead.
• Stress can make symptoms worse. Try relaxing activities to reduce stress. Listening to music and relaxation guided imagery may help ease tremors. You can learn guided imagery from books, CDs, or DVDs.
• Besides the daily exercise that their doctor probably suggests, urge them to exercise their facial muscles, jaw, and mouth. Sing or read out loud (using big lip movements) or make faces.

WebMD says, “The hands-on daily tasks of caregiving can be hard for both of you. But they also bring you together. As much as possible, focus on what (the person) can do. Taking part in their own care and enjoying hobbies will help them enjoy life more.”

At Home Helpers, we find it very rewarding to help seniors daily by providing assistance with personal care, homemaker services, meal planning and preparation, and an array of other in-home care services. It is even more gratifying to lend a steady hand to senior clients with PD because they require more specialized Parkinson’s care that the compassionate caregivers I employ are skillfully trained to deliver.

Please remember that if you or someone you love has PD, Home Helpers can provide the necessary care and support to make life easier. I gladly offer a FREE Assessment to discuss specific needs and create a customized care plan.

Home Helpers® Kankakee & Frankfort is honored to have been ranked among the Activated Insights 2025 Top 100 Leaders in Experience for home care providersand to have received the Best of Home Care® Provider of Choice, the Best of Home Care® Employer of Choice, and the Best of Home Care® Leader in Experience Awards 2025, in addition to the Daily Journal’s Readers’ Choice Award 2025.

Home Helpers® Kankakee & Frankfort proudly serves male and female seniors in Beecher, Bourbonnais, Bradley, Dwight, Frankfort, Kankakee, Manteno, Mokena, New Lenox, Orland Park, Palos Heights, Palos   Hills, Tinley Park, Watseka, Wilmington, and surrounding areas. Contact our office today to learn more about the many services offered through Home Helpers® - We are Making Life Easier℠ for you and yours! 815.427.4238

Sources:

Illinois Chapter of the American Parkinson’s Disease Association

WebMD