Preserving Memories. Sharing Legacy.
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Parkinson's disease is a highly variable and potentially debilitating neurological condition. For many people who are first diagnosed, symptoms can be mild, which might slow the progression of the disease with treatment efforts. Caregivers often take on the role of managing care for their loved one until symptoms become too challenging. Assisted living is a great alternative for seniors who need extra care outside of their home to ensure they are safe and healthy. What IS an Assisted Living Facility for Parkinson’s Patients? While there is no facility for just Parkinson's patients, if you love one with PD then it does not mean they will lack proper care in a nursing home. The facilities that provide assisted living should be prepared for the residents who have Parkinson's disease. This is just like any other neurological or medical conditions as people age. Parkinson’s Disease is on the rise, and it affects one million Americans. The Parkinson’s Foundation estimates that this number will double by 2021 if we do not find a cure soon! The average age of onset for PD is 56 and the older someone gets at the time they are diagnosed, it's more likely that their disease will be severe. As far as caring for a person with Parkinson’s Disease adequately when living alone becomes difficult or impossible; assisted living may become necessary to ensure safety. Parkinson's symptoms worsen with time and are identified in stages of progression. But each person will progress at their own pace, some requiring assistance early on while others require it much later. Patients with Parkinson’s may need help with the following things:
Not all Parkinson’s patients will experience a loss of balance, decreased coordination, or difficulty walking as they age. However, it is important for these people to recognize that physical limitations can be difficult to manage. Things You Should Look for in an Assisted Living Facility for Parkinson’s Patients Assisted living communities can help patients with Parkinson's disease, but you want to make sure they are able to attend your loved one’s unique symptoms and needs. The neurological disorder, PD can be a serious problem later in life. To ensure that you have an assisted living facility with the necessary support and care for your condition, here are some things to consider: -Does this particular area/community offer supportive services? If so what kind (e.g., speech therapy)? -What type of professional staff does it employ? Are they experienced or entry level workers who may not know how best to treat patients with Parkinson's Disease symptoms like swallowing issues...? Trained Staff Availability Assisted living communities have dedicated staff available to help with a variety of activities, including some basic daily tasks like bathing and dressing. There are several tiers or care levels that determine how much assistance your loved one will receive in addition to the base cost for staying at an assisted living community. If your loved one's needs exceed what the staff at assisted living can provide, you may have to pay for additional outside help. For example, if your loved one is finding it hard to get out of bed and dressed in the morning due to their health conditions or aging process then they might need someone else (you) helping them with this instead of having a paid carer do so. It is recommended that you figure out the requirements for moving to memory care from assisted living. This information will help plan accordingly, as intervening in any problems early on can delay memory care and make it easier before transitioning over completely. Meal Quality and Variety Patients with Parkinson's disease may have trouble swallowing and require a modified food regimen. You will want to find out if the kitchen can accommodate special diets, like a mechanical soft diet. People with Parkinson's need a healthy, varied diet to ensure that they are receiving all of the essential vitamins and nutrients. However, too much protein can interfere with certain PD medications. Get in touch with the food service department to make sure dietary preferences and requirements will be met throughout your treatment at this hospital or facility. Activities Available For people with Parkinson's, physical exercise is important to maintain strength and flexibility. It can also increase endurance in the beginning stages of the disease. With the activities schedule in hand, go over which activities would be best suited for your loved one. Speak with them about what they have planned to stay updated and involved! For some people with Parkinson's disease, riding a stationary bike can be useful for staying active and healthy. There should always be someone available in the gym to monitor activity just in case something happens. When considering group activities as part of assisted living, there are two main considerations. Firstly, people with Parkinson's disease may be stigmatized due to their rigidity and tremors; this can make it difficult for them to connect with other residents at a care center. Secondly, the person who is looking after these individuals must always keep in mind that they have PD because if something goes wrong—such as choking or falling—they will need quick medical attention from someone already trained on how best to handle such situations. To make sure that your loved one feels welcomed and included, it is important to express these concerns with the assisted living staff. Mental Health Issues Because depression is common among people with Parkinson's, up to 50 percent of them are also depressed. It's important not to think that the assisted living facility should be responsible for treating this mental health disorder; they will only do what you ask or let them know about the condition when it comes up. An awareness of the issue and referral to available resources is a bonus. It can also be helpful if staff members recognize signs of depression and report them. Memory Care Availability There are various types of dementia, the most common form being Parkinson's. Dementia is a loss in memory and cognitive function that can affect the brain over time. While it may be unpleasant to think about once someone has reached old age, they must consider their future if they develop this condition as 50-80% of people with Parkinson’s disease will experience some symptoms associated with dementia before death occurs due to complications from Parkinsons itself or any other health conditions present within an individual at diagnosis which could influence mortality risk such as heart disease (Borghammer et al., 2018). When your loved one moves into an assisted living community, it may be a good idea to look at the memory care as well. The transition will likely be more comfortable if you do so now before any issues arise with dementia or Alzheimer's disease down the line. How Can You Tell if Your Parkinson’s Afflicted Loved One is Ready for Assisted Living? If you have reached the point of caregiver burnout, it might be time to consider assisted living. Assisted living provides a place where your loved one can receive care that exceeds what is possible at home or with in-home health support services like those provided by Visiting Angels®. Safety becomes an issue when safety hazards cannot be managed adequately at home; social isolation and loneliness are concerns because these feelings may worsen as memory problems arise from dementia symptoms such as short term memory loss and concentration issues caused by Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of Dementia; Memory related kind of problem make difficult for us so we need some sort assistance which helps our loved ones stay active socially, mentally & physically alert throughout their day. Finding the Best Assisted Living Facility for a Parkinson’s Patient Assisted living communities that offer care for Parkinson's Disease will often have to adjust their services as the disease progresses. Having some idea of the disease's trajectory will help you make informed decisions. Talk with your loved one's doctor to get a clear picture of what lies ahead for them and how far they may be able to go in treatment or recovery. Count the Cost If you are concerned about paying for assisted living, it is important to know how costs will increase as your loved one's needs do. By considering private home care in addition to what the assisted living staff can offer, you may be able to make sure that your loved one is getting all the help they need. Ask about add-on costs for this additional level of service as well as likely yearly increases in base fees and charges. Ease of Mobility Assisted living layouts vary from community to community. Some might have long hallways that can make navigating feel like being trapped and claustrophobic, or difficult if the elevators are a distance away from rooms only available in one place. For example, if it takes too long to access the dining and activity rooms, that could increase isolation which can lead to loneliness. This also increases fall risk due to a lack of movement in general. Professional Nursing Availability If your loved one has ongoing nursing needs, evaluate whether the assisted living facility is able to handle those. If not, you might consider other options like home health or private nursing. Transportation Availability The family of a loved one with Parkinson's disease has to consider the transportation schedule for outpatient treatment. A limited transport system at an assisted living community might not be convenient, so families should look into other options before moving forward with arrangements. Common Areas Spaces like libraries, theatres, and meeting rooms are places where people naturally gather. Making friends in assisted living for someone with PD can be challenging so having these spaces creates an atmosphere that is conducive to connection and conversation. A primary source for material used in this article is from Joincake.com
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 Sibling fights can be minor, temporary disagreements over care or major legal battles that grow from unresolved issues. However, advance planning and good communication with your siblings will help avoid these scenarios. If you disagree about end-of-life plans for a loved one it is possible to have an ugly court battle if they pass away without any clear instructions as testamentary documents are not always the final word in disputes between heirs of estates and guardianship matters if there are no written guidelines set forth by the deceased party themselves when able. There are many situations that can cause sibling fights over aging parents. Sometimes the past is to blame for how things went off track, but it's difficult to sort through everything involved in these disagreements. Before reviewing your parents’ end-of-life plans, it is important to consider potential scenarios. For example, what if they disagree about whether or not you should have access? In this case, try asking logical questions such as “What do you think a responsible adult would say in that situation?” This will help set boundaries and keep things cordial and open. How to End Sibling Fights Over Parents Who are Aging Instead of taking sides, the best way to resolve a conflict between siblings is by trying your hardest to be impartial. For example, if one sibling started it or escalated things into an argument first then you should try and end that fight before it becomes even more heated up. Here are some steps on how this can happen:
Is it an issue with the type or quality of care being provided, or who is providing it? One thing to keep in mind is that you can increase your parent’s independence and ensure they are living comfortably. If there are specific care concerns, it would be best for the family to come together as a team so everyone understands what needs to happen each day with their aging parents. As your parents are aging, it may become necessary for them to live in a senior living facility. Make sure that you discuss with the family how they feel about this and if their current care is satisfactory before making any decisions regarding placement. When it comes to senior living placement, there can be a lot of tension between siblings. Some may favor the move while others have concerns about cost and who is going to pay for it all. What does the aging parent want? Who is their primary caregiver in the family? Do they feel adequately cared for or are they experiencing burnout that led them to look into options like senior living placement in order take care of themselves as well? Do siblings avoid spending money on their elderly parents because they would like to inherit the cash? You might be surprised to find out that care concerns are often a cover for worries about inheritance and cash flow. Sadly, some siblings won’t be in favor of spending more money on care. When a parent gets older, they may make decisions that their children disapprove of. This could be due to unresolved regret or guilt from the past. Sometimes it is also because siblings have been estranged for such a long time and need more control over what happens since there isn't much communication between them anymore either. Is the conflict about control? When an aging parent’s medical needs start to increase, and they need more help, control issues can emerge . Sometimes control is about past regrets , shame , or guilt and asserting this form of power helps cope with those emotions in some way . Other times , however , sibling estrangement might play into these dynamics as well when one feels left out by other family members. 1. Get Together as a Group to work out Conflicts In family conflict, you should include everyone even if it means talking through video. It is better to have all members present than a few in person and others not involved at all. If your parent has health problems that prevent their involvement, then they are exempt from the discussion unless there are other siblings who can take over this responsibility for them during such times of distress. 2. Put Together an Agenda for Discussion To make the conversation productive, have an agenda that guides you. This will prevent derailment of conversations into areas not helpful to solving problems. It is normal for people to want to vent frustrations, but if everyone spends their time complaining about issues without trying resolutions this won't be effective in resolving your conflicts. While sticking with the plan allow others enough breathing room so they're able express themselves fully and feel heard by all parties involved at hand. 3. Take Notes for Future Reference If a meeting is not recorded, everyone can leave having different recollections of the events that occurred and what was decided. This phenomenon is similar to telephone game where people form a circle and whisper in each other's ears but say something totally different by the end because they cannot remember exactly what it was originally said. 4. Set Reasonable Goals In the heat of conflict, it can be hard to reach an agreement. It may not even be possible for all disputes and fighting related to these arguments will come down. The best thing you can do is reduce the flame and temperature by setting small goals on your agenda as a group. If everyone in this meeting agrees on one plan or decision, then that's progress! You could always return later once tempers have cooled off a bit more when tackling other issues about what needs attention at home.. 5. Be Aware of Caregiver Burnout When siblings fight, it's often because the primary caregiver is worn out. It can be hard for other siblings to offer help and sometimes consider additional outside paid support when they're resistant to change. But staying in their comfort zone of 'the same old thing' isn't ideal either. 6. Consider Using a Third Party Mediator Geriatric care managers use their expertise to identify important areas of concern in providing for the needs of aging adults. The report they provide can help families better understand how these issues should be addressed and what resources are available to address them, which helps reduce stress both on family members as well as senior loved ones living with disabilities or chronic illness. Geriatric care managers also offer advice about day-to-day activities that a senior may need assistance performing but don't require an immediate visit from home health professionals such as bathing, dressing ,or cooking nutritious meals . This detailed information allows individuals considering long term options like assisted living communities or homes where there is hourly support staff present at all times get realistic ideas regarding costs associated with those services allowing more informed decision making. Conflict Prevention is Better than Conflict Resolution 7. Do Advance Planning In order to prevent future sibling conflict, advanced planning is a tool that can be used. Advanced planning consists of several components including agreement and decision-making which are crucial in preventing fighting among siblings. Advance directives, often called a living will or health care proxy depending on where you live, give family decision-making authority when someone is no longer able to speak for themselves. The second part of an advance directive allows the legal right to obtain medical records and get medical information regarding your treatment decisions before becoming incapacitated by illness. Advance directives can be given different names in each state/country but they all serve the same purpose: giving loved ones power over healthcare decisions if one becomes unable (due to incapacity) to make their own choices about it first hand. Advance Directives also allow individuals access into another person's personal health record & any other relevant data gathering prior to being rendered incapable. A living will is a great way to avoid family conflict when end-of-life decisions need to be made. A living will lets your parent indicate what they want and provides you with something specific to follow. That helps prevent fighting among siblings. A will can save your parents a lot of stress and grief. If they don’t have one written, the process of settling their estate could be difficult for everyone involved. It is important to urge them to write a will as soon as possible so that you know who would be in charge if something were ever happens with both mom or dad gone. If there's no plan put into place when death strikes, it may turn out to be quite stressful on all parties involved--including siblings! You should encourage your folks right now while they're healthy enough (and before any new family members are born) that writing up an estate arrangement document would go far beyond what anyone thought was necessary at this point. If you are worried about your parents' future, talk with them at a very early stage on what to do when their cognitive abilities decline. These talks aren't easy but it is better than going into crisis mode and having no idea how to handle the situation. Visit assisted living communities in advance of needing one so that they can get familiarized with where they will be residing if ever needed down the road. Discuss various care options as well such as home health aides or nursing homes depending on need triggers like declining mobility or memory loss. Discussing finances and insurance coverage can help a family handle tough situations. If you have financial power of attorney, it gives someone the ability to make decisions if necessary. It's important for your siblings to be on board with this process so there aren't any disagreements later on about what needs done or who should take care of things like bills and taxes. 8. Communication is Essential Siblings sometimes fight because they're not included in healthcare decisions. This usually happens when a sibling doesn't feel like the primary caregiver is sharing information, so it's best to share any relevant medical updates with everyone involved. It is easy to develop resentment when a sibling finds out some critical piece of medical information late or wasn't ever informed. To avoid this, share crucial information via email or group calendar system where everyone can see what's happening and contribute their own input. Maybe you're not the only one with a family of remote siblings. When thinking about how to add them in, consider giving your sibling some tasks they can complete online, such as researching care options or finding new information from there. 9. Know End-Of-Life Wishes of Parents Even with a living will, it is necessary to discuss end-of-life wishes which can include your parents' preferences regarding cremation, burial, funeral or graveside services as well. However sad of a truth that may be; sibling conflict and fighting during someone's death can continue even after they have passed away. This makes the issue worse because family estrangement and infighting continues long after their demise intensifying the fight within siblings too due to this happening at such an emotional time in everyone's life. The Eulogy Writers Writers of Great Eulogies for Over Thirty Years A primary source for material used in this article is from Joincake.com
 When someone you love dies, grief is a natural reaction to loss. No matter what your spiritual beliefs are or if they are not part of your life at all, the pain and suffering that comes from losing someone who was important to you can be just as intense for everyone involved. No one knows how you will react after the death of your loved ones. Feeling anger and frustration at God is a common response, as it helps to make sense of their loss in an otherwise seemingly cruel world where bad things happen to good people. When people are going through difficult times, religion can help them feel comforted and supported. But for those who do not believe in the same things as their religious community or find themselves questioning certain aspects of it, they might end up feeling even worse than before because now there is this sense that no matter how hard you try to be with your own beliefs everything will still remain unanswered until one day someone decides to come along and answer all your questions where you don't have any say in what happens next. Why Do People Stop Believing When Tragedy Strikes? People go through a lot of emotions after the loss of someone they love. They may even blame their faith or God for what happened, which is completely normal and human to do so. In time, people will be able to reconcile with this grief as well as move on in life by questioning their beliefs and going into denial before coming out angry at such things like religion that can help them cope up with all these issues better than ever possible Grief can cause you to question your faith as the loss of a loved one brings about tremendous crisis. Getting Your Faith Back A faith crisis can happen to anyone at any time, but is most common after the loss of someone close. Getting your beliefs and higher power back on track takes reflection, prayer, and connecting with what once gave you comfort during hard times. Although it may seem like there's no hope for your faith, you can still take steps to get closer. 1. TIME is the Great Healer When you lose a loved one, the first few days and weeks take some time to process. You might shut down emotionally and withdraw from others during this period of mourning. Be patient with yourself when feeling lost after losing your relative or friend; it takes time for healing to begin again in earnest following such loss. The grief process is a difficult experience, and it will take you time to heal. You'll go through stages where you lose your faith before regaining it again. 2. Consider the Depths of Your Grief Unfortunately, you will experience a plethora of emotions after someone dies. You might feel numb for a while but then cry uncontrollably and one day suddenly have an outburst screaming at the top of your lungs in anger without any explanation as to why. To begin your grieving process, unleash all of the emotions you've been bottling up. Tears are a form of self-cleansing and healing that will help get rid of bottled feelings before moving forward with grief in an efficient manner. Take the time needed to grieve, and think about all of your reasons for losing faith. You don't need to pressure yourself into finding answers--this is a process that will take some time. 3. Pray as You are Able When we are in times of need, it is important to pray as a way for us to connect with our faith and the divine. Without offering up some prayers, even when you don't feel confident about your religion or beliefs, then there would be no connection between yourself and the higher power that helps guide you through difficult situations. Prayer can help lift you out of depression and anger, but if it isn't in your nature to pray consider repeating grief affirmations. 4. Anger is OK The pain and anger you feel after the death of a loved one are natural. So don't be surprised when you lash out at God asking questions like, "Why have You forsaken me?" When people feel betrayed by their faith, they may often become incredibly angry. This is normal and should not be a source of shame or guilt. To begin healing from this loss you must confront the pain that comes with it rather than try to ignore it or suppress your feelings about what happened in order for things to get better quickly. Anger can actually push us towards accepting our situation and taking effective action instead of wallowing in self-pity as we wait passively on someone else’s solution 5. Start a Conversation with God God wants you to know, even in your anger and confusion after loss, that He understands. Grieving is a difficult process, but it's important to remember that you're not alone. Asking God directly for answers and praying for strength will help you make sense of why things had to happen the way they did while giving you some peace and comfort as well. 6. Allow others believe for you When you go through a tough time, it can be hard to regain peace. During this process, sharing your feelings with others and asking for help when needed is essential because those around us are the ones who will bring serenity back into our lives. Asking for prayer is a wonderful way to develop your spirituality. When you need help, accept it with gratitude from those who wish to support you in this journey of faith. 7. Allow Faith to Return The crisis in your faith will not get bolstered by reading philosophical or academic texts on grief and bereavement alone. You'll have to choose to rely on your faith through the darkness of pain and suffering that comes with loss. Some of the best types of reading for someone who's lost their faith in God after a loved one dies are spiritual and religious texts that touch on people who were suffering and angry at God. These stories, parables, books can help you recognize that you're not walking alone in your grief. 8. Seek spiritual counsel If you're struggling to open up about your loss of faith, reach out for spiritual advice and guidance. You might feel more comfortable talking openly if you go outside of the immediate religious or spiritual circle because there's less risk involved in sharing personal information with someone new. Seeking spiritual online counseling is an alternative to seeking advice from clergy or other religious leaders. A grief counselor is trained in advising from a religious or spiritual perspective, so they can provide meaningful support during times of difficult life events like losing someone close to you. 9. Find Peace Again Losing someone you love can feel like your heart has been ripped out of your chest, and it hurts so much that sometimes literally brings you to knees in pain. In the first few days or weeks following their death, be gentle with yourself as this overwhelming sadness is normal. Self-criticism is common following losses, but have faith because peace can be found through acceptance and healing. 10. Find Meaning Again When you feel your faith is lost, it may seem as if everything becomes meaningless. To bring meaning back to life after suffering a loss might include sitting down in prayerful contemplation with God or another higher power on the subject of that loss. Losing the person you love is one of the most difficult things a human being can go through, and it's not easy to think clearly when in mourning. It makes sense that anger might cloud your thinking process, but try to take everything step by step for now rather than jumping into anything too quickly. 11. It’s a Journey Grief can be a cycle of brokenness and healing, with no clear beginning or end. You'll feel like you never were the same person after your loss; that's okay. The best way to get past grief is just getting through it—eventually there will come an acceptance process where we realize our loved one would want us to move on from their death in order for them not to have died in vain. Our journeys of healing are unique to each and every one us. Your path toward recovery might be different from others who suffer alongside you, so don't compare your grief or expectations with theirs! Accept the changes in yourself as they happen naturally without any judgment on how fast or slow it happens. A primary source for material used in this article is from Joincake.com
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