As Northbrook’s top in-home care company, one of our specialties is providing care for Parkinson’s Disease. Parkinson’sDisease (PD) is a disorder of the central nervous system causing stiffness and tremors. An estimated 1 million people inthe United States have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s and 110,000 of those are vets, according the United States Department of Veteran Affairs. The cause of PD can be traced back to genetics or possible environmental exposure. Veterans are known to have been exposed to harmful herbicides, like Agent Orange that was used in Vietnam from 1962-1975. Other environmental factors include chemicals, toxins or head trauma.
Symptoms begin to emerge at about 50 years old affecting activities of daily living (ADLs). As the disease progresses, many daily tasks become more difficult, including bathing, dressing, eating, sleeping and walking. Also, be aware of depression, anxiety, and apathy which can all be affected by the treating medication.
There are possible protective factors to help prevent or lessen the severity of symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease, including:
- Caffeine
- Uric acid or Urate- found in the red blood cells
- Anti-inflammatory drugs
- Smoking- possibly from the caffeine properties
- Cholesterol levels- medications used to manage cholesterol can help reduce risk
- Vitamin D
- Exercise
Thankfully veterans have benefits and services offered to them through Veterans Benefits Administration, based on discharge from active duty. The United States Department of Veteran Affairs gives veterans access to specialized medical care as well as financial assistance. Homewatch CareGivers offers our vets superb service. We honor your service and take pride in the ability to serve you like you served our country.
