Many individuals with a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease do very well without much assistance and live full lives until the disease progresses. Others need help early after diagnosis and as the disease progresses they need 24/7 care, mostly given by family caregivers.
There are other conditions that can look like Parkinson’s but are not – such as Lewy Body Dementia or hand tremors. It is important for families to know the symptoms of Parkinson’s, get a diagnosis early in the process and know their options for treatment and long term care.
It is also important for families and patients to be informed and get as much education as possible so they can be proactive with treatment, strength building and long term planning. We are offering a 2-hour class in our Walnut Creek, CA office on “The World of Parkinson’s” on May 14th, 2010 from 10:00 AM to noon.
If you live in another area call your local Senior Information office or University Hospital and find out if they are currently offering any informational classes on Parkinson’s. Of course, checking out the Parkinson’s Foundation (www.pdf.org) for sound information is always a good choice. The Senior Information office in your community would be able to tell you if there is a local Parkinson’s support group – it’s always helpful to the entire family and patient.