When Should Parkinson’s Patients Move to Assisted Living?

Although each person’s experiences are different, Parkinson’s patients should generally consider moving to assisted living when they reach the middle to late stages of the disease. Essentially, assisted living can benefit those who find daily tasks difficult and need help with managing medication or performing daily living activities, such as dressing and bathing.

During the early stages of Parkinson’s disease, individuals can usually lead relatively independent lives with extra support. As symptoms worsen and the disease progresses, Parkinson’s patients may require greater levels of care in different settings. A health care professional can help assess the stage of the disease and whether an individual can benefit from assisted living.

Many people with early-stage Parkinson’s disease can live independently and manage their day-to-day affairs. However, as the disease progresses, it affects motor function, which typically makes performing daily tasks difficult or impossible. By stage 4 of disease progression, many individuals require significant help with activities of daily living and move using a walker or cane. Assisted living caregivers follow personalized care plans to help residents complete everyday activities. The design of assisted living communities typically provides a safe environment for Parkinson’s patients, with anti-slip flooring, grab rails and step-free surfaces to reduce the risk of falls.

Facilities also provide laundry, housekeeping and meals in a maintenance-free setting, and residents can join wellness and enrichment programs to enhance life enjoyment. The communal environment and engagement activities may also reduce depression and anxiety, common conditions associated with Parkinson’s disease.

Many people with Parkinson’s eventually experience cognitive decline, with up to 80% developing dementia. Additionally, the disease often affects spoken and written communication. Specialized memory care facilities may be appropriate in such cases, with caregivers trained to provide compassionate care for people with memory impairments. People with Parkinson’s disease may develop problems chewing and swallowing, which makes eating and drinking difficult. These symptoms can occur at any stage of disease progression, although it’s more common in the latter stages. Speech-language pathologists may help seniors overcome such challenges in an outpatient setting or nursing home. However, while many assisted living and memory care facilities can prepare pureed meals to address chewing issues, seniors who need nutritional therapy are better suited to nursing home care. Additionally, in the final stages of Parkinson’s, patients usually need 24/7 supervision and extensive care, making nursing homes a more appropriate environment than assisted living communities.