Patient/caregiver was educated on measures to promote safe swallow for Parkinson’s patients as follows: Stiffness and rigidity of muscles involving the face and jaw in Parkinson’s patients could progressively lead to difficulties with chewing and safe swallowing. Ability to chew is the major stimulus for saliva production. Impaired safe swallowing function can lead to severe complications such as, choking and aspiration pneumonia. Observing compliance with the following measures can help with promoting safe swallow in Parkinson’s patients. Sit [...]

Patient/caregiver was educated on driving instructions for Parkinson’s patients as follows: Driving promotes an individual’s personal freedom, control, and independence. Rigidity, sudden onset of episodes of freezing, and tremors in Parkinson’s patients can impair their ability for safe driving and increase risk for accidents. Slowed thought process in Parkinson’s patients can impair their ability to react quickly to road hazards, thus impairing quick application of brakes, timely turning of wheel, and slamming on the gas pedal as needed. [...]

Patient/caregiver was educated on fall precautions for Parkinson’s patients as follows: Individuals with the facility of only a bathtub can have a tub transfer bench installed in the bathtub. A tub transfer bench extends over the bathtub, with part of the bench outside and part of the bench inside the bathtub. While entering the bathtub, individuals can walk up to the edge of transfer bench outside the bathtub, leave their assistive device there, sit on the bench, [...]

Patient/caregiver was educated on fall precautions for Parkinson’s patients as follows: Pieces of furniture with wheels, swivels, or rockers are highly unstable, offer poor support, and carry significant risk for falls & accidents. Individuals with Parkinson’s disease have poor balance and use of unstable furniture can only further the fall risk. Avoid use of any unstable furniture pieces to promote fall prevention measures. Make sure the toilet is not too low, as rigidity in Parkinson’s patients can [...]

Patient/caregiver was educated on fall precautions for Parkinson’s patients as follows: Wear comfortable clothes when using assistive devices. Loose and frizzy clothing on the lower body can get entangled with the legs of the assistive device, compromise balance, and lead to fall. Wear clothing with pockets to carry essential items, such as, telephone, personal alert systems. Make sure you leave these essential items on the nightstand located within an arm reach, which helps with easy access, if [...]