Parkinson’s

Parkinson’s is a neurological condition, which means it affects some nerve cells in the brain.

When someone has Parkinson’s, some of the nerve cells in their brain die. This means they can’t produce enough of a chemical called dopamine. Without enough dopamine, the brain struggles to transmit messages that coordinate movement and so the symptoms of Parkinson’s appear.Over time, less dopamine is produced, which means that more symptoms appear.

Symptoms of Parkinson’s

Different people are affected by Parkinson’s in different ways and symptoms can change or develop over time.The most common symptoms of Parkinson’s are a tremor, slowness of movement and muscle stiffness (rigidity). Parkinson’s can also cause, weakness, tiredness, pain and depression.

Symptoms could include:

Tremor
Slowness of movement
Rigidity
Speech and communication problems
Bladder or bowel problems
Eye problems
Dizziness or falling over
Pain
Anxiety
Depression
Memory problems

In the latter stages of Parkinson’s everyday activities such as getting washed and dressed can become more difficult.Help with Parkinson’sParkinson’s doesn’t directly cause people to die, but as people reach the latter stages of the illness – advanced Parkinson’s – their needs become more complex and they may benefit from hospice care.

At St Nicholas Hospice Care we can support people with Parkinson’s with:

Complementary therapies such as massage, Aromatherapy, Acupuncture and Reiki. These therapies can help with wellbeing, coping with anxiety, relaxation and managing difficult symptoms

Physiotherapy – to help with mobility and maximise independent living

Occupational therapy – to help with household adjustments to make things easier. Occupational therapists can also help with advice and exercises to make daily living more comfortable

Doctor and nurse-led clinics for outpatients

Counselling and emotional support – to help with emotional or spiritual guidance

We also have a range of groups and activities where you can meet people in a similar situation or talk to someone in a friendly and informal environment.

If you are not yet known to the Hospice, but think you may benefit from some of the services we have to offer, please get in touch with our First Contact team.For further information about Parkinson’s, please refer to the Parkinson’s Society.