Parkinson’s Support in Broward County

It is estimated that 1 million people are currently living with Parkinson’s Disease in the US.

April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month, a time to highlight the 2nd-most common neurodegenerative disorder. Parkinson’s is a slow, progressive disorder. Meaning that as time passes, the disease worsens. The disease affects your brain, including the area where dopamine is produced. Dopamine is how nerve signals travel throughout your body, and consequently, how your muscles react to those signals. Meaning, when those cells are lost, you may struggle with symptoms of Parkinson’s. Those symptoms include:

• Tremors or shaking
• Stiffness, slower movement
• Quieter voice
• Smaller handwriting
• Body pain
• Fatigue
• Changes to mood or motivation
• Difficulty thinking clearly.

How Will Parkinson’s Affect My Loved One?

As Parkinson’s advances, you will notice symptoms begin to change. This can lead to changes in a lot of areas of your life, including finances, family plans, family responsibilities, and more. If you will be the primary caregiver for someone with Parkinson’s, you may find yourself helping out in ways you did not use to do. This may mean doing household tasks someone else used to and helping your parent or spouse with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), such as getting dressed or cooking.

Taking on these additional responsibilities may not be something you like doing; rather, you feel you have to. That is a completely normal way to feel. At Griswold Care Pairing for Broward County, we offer respite care services to help. With respite care, we can refer a Caregiver who will help provide some relief for you and some of these duties, whether that’s for a couple of hours a week or a few days. This gives you time to take care of other responsibilities in your life. Maybe you use that time to go to your own doctor’s appointments, attend a child’s sports game, or run errands.

Good Activities for Someone with Parkinson’s?

Those with Parkinson’s must continue to participate in activities that keep them moving and are enjoyable. You may find yourself not able to do the same activities you used to do; however, that does not mean there aren’t new activities to try that you may enjoy.

• Painting or art therapy
• Pottery
• Scrapbooking
• Listening to music or playing instruments
• Playing with pets
• Playing board games
• Knitting
• Bird watching
• Walking with support

Local Resources

The American Parkinson Disease Association lists several local groups located throughout Broward County and the rest of Florida.

There is a PWP and Care Partners Support Group that meets at Cavalry Chapel every other Thursday.

Another PWP and Care Partners Support Group that meets at Sartory Hall Senior Center the 4th Thursday monthly.

Allegro Senior Living hosts a different PWP and Care Partners Support Group on the 2nd Tuesday of each month.

A fourth PWP and Care Partners Support Group is held at Encompass Rehab the 1st Tuesday monthly.

There is a PD Support Group that meets periodically at Coral Springs Senior Center.

Finally, there is a PWP and Caregivers group that meets and exercises at Raw Kickboxing and Fitness on the 3rd or 4th Saturday of the month.

Griswold Care Pairing Can Help

At Griswold, we are here to support you and help you age in the comfort of your own home. If you or a loved one is living with Parkinson’s, our referred Caregivers can support you. We offer a variety of care services, including fall prevention support, companionship, personal care, homemaking, and more. We offer these services for just a few hours a week of respite, all the way up to 24/7 and live-in care. Live-in care can be especially beneficial for those in need of ongoing support. The Caregiver will live in the home with you, and often these arrangements result in more than just home care, but turn into a healthy friendship that improves overall quality of life.

If you’re interested in learning more about how Griswold can support your Parkinson’s diagnosis, give us a call today. We’d be happy to answer all of your questions and help design a personalized care plan, just for you. We can often have a referred Caregiver to your home within 24 hours.

License #: NR30211028