ALS & Parkinson's Home Care

Provident Care Home Care provides a broad range of specialized home care services. Our care team has the expertise and experience in assisting families dealing with memory loss issues, hospice care and other conditions that require more intensive one-on-one assistance.

ALS and Parkinson's Home Care

If you or your loved one have ALS or Parkinson’s disease, you may need a little extra help at home. What does it mean to get Parkinson’s or ALS care at home? What types of services are included? How long can a person with a degenerative mobility disease live at home? How do you know if your loved one needs mobility care at home?

Here’s what you need to know about ALS and Parkinson’s care at home.

What Is ALS?

ALS stands for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, which is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the spinal cord and brain.

“A-myo-trophic comes from the Greek language. ‘A’ means no. ‘Myo’ refers to muscle, and ‘Trophic’ means nourishment – ‘No muscle nourishment.’ When a muscle has no nourishment, it ‘atrophies’ or wastes away. ‘Lateral’ identifies the areas in a person's spinal cord where portions of the nerve cells that signal and control the muscles are located. As this area degenerates, it leads to scarring or hardening (‘sclerosis’) in the region.”

-According to the ALS Association [1]:

What Is Parkinson's Disease?

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive nervous system disorder affecting movement. While tremors are common, Parkinson’s can also cause slowed movement or stiffness.

“Parkinson's disease symptoms worsen as your condition progresses over time. Although Parkinson's disease can't be cured, medications might significantly improve your symptoms.”

-The Mayo Clinic says [2]:

How Do You Help Someone With Mobility Problems?

3 million people per year are treated in emergency rooms for fall injuries, and at least 300,000 older people are hospitalized for hip fractures [3]. People with mobility problems are at even higher risk for falls than other senior citizens, so helping them has a lot to do with preventing falls. ALS and Parkinson’s care at home includes assistance with walking or using a wheelchair to help prevent falls.

Additionally, certain home modifications can help people with mobility problems, such as:

  • Installing grab bars in the bathroom
  • Moving frequently used items to locations that are easier to reach
  • Rearranging furniture to provide a safer walking path
  • Installing standing showers in place of tubs or removing a large step into the shower
  • Removing clutter from floors
  • Widening doorways for wheelchairs
  • Pinning down or removing rugs
  • Installing ramps over door thresholds or existing steps
  • Installing banisters next to stairs that don’t have them

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ALS & Parkinson in Modesto, CA

What Is ALS and Parkinson's Care at Home?

Parkinson’s and ALS care at home involves helping individuals with personal care activities that have become difficult or impossible for the patient to do independently due to mobility issues caused by their disease.

-Indications that your loved one needs mobility care at home can happen so gradually that you almost don’t notice unless you’re looking for the signs.

What Types of Services Are Included With Mobility Care at Home?

Examples of ALS and Parkinson’s care at home include:

  • Transportation
  • Ambulation assistance
  • Personal hygiene, grooming, and bathing
  • Grocery shopping
  • Homemaking
  • Fall prevention
  • Assistance getting to appointments

ALS Care at Home

ALS home care is non-medical care to help ALS patients stay in their homes rather than moving into a long-term care facility. ALS care at home includes things like help with bathing, dressing, toileting, eating, and moving around [4].

Parkinson’s Disease Care at Home

Since Parkinson’s disease can make it difficult to control your movements, Parkinson’s disease care at home involves assistance with activities of daily living like toileting, grooming, bathing, dressing, eating, and moving around the home.

How Long Can a Person With a Degenerative Mobility Disease Live at Home?

ALS & Parkinson in Modesto, CA

With the right type and amount of care, a person with a degenerative mobility disease may be able to live at home for the rest of their lives, unless their health deteriorates to the point where they require hospitalization.

How Do I Know if My Loved One Needs Mobility Care at Home?

Indications that your loved one needs mobility care at home can happen so gradually that you almost don’t notice unless you’re looking for the signs. Here are some red flags to look out for that indicate that your loved one is ready for in-home care [5]:

● Decreased mobility. Has your loved one fallen? Are they at risk of falling? Are they worried about falling?
● Mental health. Depression, in particular, can affect people with mobility issues, such as those dealing with ALS or Parkinson’s disease.
● Driving. If your loved one can no longer drive and needs assistance getting to appointments or running errands, mobility care at home can help.
● Changes in appearance. Has your loved one gained or lost a noticeable amount of weight? Do they smell like they aren’t bathing frequently enough? Is their hair uncombed?
● Medication. Do you worry about whether your loved one is taking all their medications on time?

What to Look for in a Home Care Agency That Provides Mobility Care at Home

How can you be sure you find the right mobility care at home? Get answers to as many of these questions as you can [6]:

  • Is the agency licensed by the state?
  • What type of employee screening does the agency do?
  • Does the agency have references you can call?
  • How does the agency train and monitor caregivers?
  • Does the agency provide continuing education?
  • What are the costs for services, and what is included?
  • How do they handle billing and expenses?
  • How are problems addressed and resolved?
  • What procedures do they have in place for emergencies?
  • Will the agency work directly with you or your loved one, health care providers, and family members?

Need help finding the right ALS or Parkinson’s care at home? Contact us today.

References

  1. ALS Association, What Is ALS? https://www.als.org/understanding-als/what-is-als
  2. Mayo Clinic, Parkinson’s Disease, https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/parkinsons-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20376055
  3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Important Facts about Falls, https://www.cdc.gov/homeandrecreationalsafety/falls/adultfalls.html
  4. Your ALS Guide, Home Care for ALS, https://www.youralsguide.com/home-care.html
  5. AARP, How to Assess When an Older Adult Requires Caregiving Assistance, https://www.aarp.org/caregiving/home-care/info-2021/assessing-need-for-caregiver.html
  6. Mayo Clinic, Home Care Services: Questions to Ask, https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/healthy-aging/in-depth/home-care-services/art-20044609