Capital Health Care NetworkHome Health Care for Parkinson’s Patients

As we learn more about how beneficial physical, occupational and speech therapies are for people with Parkinson’s disease (PD), medical home health care providers are beginning to play a key role in many treatment plans.

Physical Therapy for PD
Physical therapy can improve strength, mobility and flexibility, and decrease the pain and stiffness associated with PD. A physical therapist can help tailor an exercise program that is right for each individual PD patient. Physical therapy can also help with certain symptoms of PD like dystonia, freezing, gait, balance and coordination.

Occupational Therapy for PD
Occupational therapy focuses on more specific tasks related to functioning. For people with PD, routine activities of daily living can become a challenge. For example, bathing or toileting may become difficult. Occupational therapists are trained to evaluate those kinds of difficulties and help the patient adapt as the disease progresses.

Speech Therapy for PD
Many people with PD have difficulty with speech, communication and swallowing. Sometimes people with PD do not realize that their voice or speech has changed but they do notice that others are asking them to repeat themselves more often. Non-verbal communication, known as facial masking, can also be affected. PD patients may lose their ability to move facial muscles which can compromise their ability to communicate. Swallowing can also be affected because the muscles that make swallowing possible can stiffen, shake or slow just like other parts of the body. Speech therapists are trained to evaluate and treat these very difficulties.

Please call Capital Health Home Care today to learn if you or your loved one suffering with PD qualifies for home health care services.