PARKINSON’S DISEASE AWARENESS MONTH

April 3, 2023 | Amethyst Home Care | ,

PART 1

It is Parkinson’s Disease Awareness Month and seniors and their caretakers in Myrtle Beach, Horry County have access to helpful resources to navigate not only caring for someone but also taking care of themselves as a caregiver.

When my mom first had hand tremors at 85, the doctor diagnosed her with early stage PD and she was prescribed Dopamine, two yellow pills to be taken at each meal daily. I really had no idea what to expect in terms of the progression of the tremors and remembered the brave battle of Michael Fox navigating this pernicious disease in mid-life, younger than most who are diagnosed.

I needed to find out more about Parkinson’s so I could be more effective at helping my mom navigate this disease. Thanks to Parkinson.org, there is a place we can all go to learn more and be informed about the disease. Parkinson.org has dedicated April to raising awareness with their #KnowMorePD campaign online. 

Doctor check up for Parkinson's disease.

APRIL IS PARKINSON DISEASE AWARENESS MONTH

Parakinson.org is leading a campaign #KnowmorePD with an endless menu of events, and resources you can link to below.  They also have a contest if you take the engaging PD knowledge quiz here: Parkinson’s Ways to #KnowMorePD

Here are some resources to help you #KnowMorePD during Parkinson’s Awareness Month.

  • Events – They have lots of great events of all types. Fitness classes, education seminars, Expert Briefing webinars and more. Join us virtually and you’ll be sure to #KnowMorePD by the end of each event.
  • Podcast – Did you know they have a podcast? Every other Tuesday, we bring you a new episode of Substantial Matters: Life and Science of Parkinson’s. Episodes focus on a range of topics relevant to your daily life, including new medications, exercise, clinical trials, nutrition and more!
  • Publications – Their PD Library is an extensive collection of books, fact sheets, videos, podcasts and more that can help you #KnowMorePD. And, all of their books are also now available on Kindle!
  • Social media – Follow along and engage with @Parkinsons.Org on your social media platform of choice for the newest information to help you #KnowMorePD.

According to Parkinsons.org, Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects predominately dopamine-producing (“dopaminergic”) neurons in a specific area of the brain called substantia nigra.

Symptoms generally develop slowly over years. The progression of symptoms is often a bit different from one person to another due to the diversity of the disease. People with PD may experience:

  • Tremor, mainly at rest, and described as pill-rolling tremor in hands. Other forms of tremors are possible.
  • Bradykinesia
  • Limb rigidity
  • Gait and balance problems

The cause remains largely unknown. Although there is no cure, treatment options vary and include medications and surgery. While Parkinson’s itself is not fatal, disease complications can be serious. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) rated complications from PD as the 14th cause of death in the United States.

The first step to living well with Parkinson’s disease is to understand the disease and its progression.

If you have further questions about caring for your loved one with Parkinson’s Disease, you can reach out to our Amethyst Home Care Patient Care Director at (843) 984-0739.

Please check back in this month

for more on Parkinson’s

in Part 2 of this month’s series.

If you or a loved one is in Myrtle Beach, Grand Dunes, Pawleys Island, Litchfield, or within the Horry County area and you have any questions or concerns about their health, please give Amethyst Home Care a call at (843) 984-0739, toll-free (800) 476-7059 or email us at info@amethysthomecare-com.us13.cdn-alpha.com to meet with one of our RNs for a more comprehensive personalized home assessment.

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