Patient/caregiver was educated on lifestyle modifications for individuals with Parkinson’s Disease as follows:
- Drink fluids liberally or as recommended during the daytime and wakeful hours. Limit your fluid intake after dinner and during the night, which can help reduce the trips to the restroom during the night. Trips to the restroom can take unduly long and affect the quality of sleep in Parkinson’s patients. Using a urinal or bedside commode during the night can be of additional help.
- Individuals with poorly controlled Parkinson’s symptoms must plan most of their life on one level in the house. This helps with avoiding the stress of climbing stairs and uneventful falls. Having an elevator installed can be of additional support for Parkinson’s patients in dwellings situated on two or more floors.
- If an elevator is not possible and climbing stairs is unavoidable, make sure you are holding a cane for support in one hand. Also, having sturdy railings on the stairs offers extra support to the individual going up and down the stairs. Marking the edges of the steps with bright contrasting colored paint or tape can help with safe placement of foot during climbing up and down the stairs. Having the staircase enough lighted can also contribute to fall prevention.
- Always remember the rule – “Up with the good leg and down with the bad leg” while climbing up and down the stairs. If both legs are equally functional, then it does not matter to use either leg for leading, followed by the other. If the stairs do not accommodate use of the assistive device, have 2 sets of assistive devices for both floors and the stairs.
