Our Parkinson’s Support Services

Living with Parkinson’s Disease is difficult due to non-motor symptoms like fatigue and pain, mental health issues like anxiety, depression, and cognitive changes.

Many clients rely on our specialized services to help with enhanced mobility, fall prevention, and to combat social isolation, all while helping them maintain their independence at home.

Understanding how critical our services are to our clients is why we strive to make this care accessible to everyone. That’s why we offer multiple payment options for these non-medical, long-term services:

• The Pennsylvania Caregiver Support Program
• The Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (a Medicaid state program)
• Veteran benefits
• Select private insurance plans

Mobility and Fall Prevention

It’s crucial to focus on mobility and fall prevention because Parkinson’s disease progressively worsens a client’s balance and movement. People with PD are at a significantly higher risk of falling due to primary motor symptoms, which can lead to serious injuries like hip fractures and head trauma.

Our expert caregivers can help with the following:

• Safe transfers: Assisting in moving from one location to another (e.g., chair to bed or vice versa). We use techniques like “nose over toes” to remind clients to lean forward, ensuring they shift their weight successfully before attempting to stand up.
• Providing safe walking tips: Reminding clients to take wider turns as they walk and to avoid multitasking to concentrate on balance and walking.
• Encouraging exercise: Motivating and helping clients with completing their doctor-recommended exercises and physical therapy routines.
• Using mobility aids: Ensuring clients use mobility devices (walkers and canes) properly and safely. We also recommend assistive gear, such as footwear with Velcro or elastic laces, for easier and safer use.

Mealtime and Safe Swallowing (Dysphagia)

Difficulty eating and swallowing (dysphagia) is a serious risk for clients with Parkinson’s, leading to pneumonia, malnutrition, and dehydration.

Our professional caregivers provide assistance to ensure safe and focused mealtimes:

• Minimizing distractions: Establishing a quiet environment (turning off the TV/radio) to help clients focus entirely on chewing and swallowing.
• Ensuring the proper position: Moving clients into the fully upright (90-degree) position, with their head tilted slightly forward (the chin tuck) to reduce the risk of aspiration.
• Controlling Portions and Pacing: Ensuring clients eat small bites at a time and asking them to swallow twice per bite to decrease risk.
• Modifying diets: Safely preparing foods as instructed by a doctor (e.g., pureeing solid food or thickening liquids) to make swallowing easier and safer.
• Identifying warning signs: Caregivers are vigilant, watching for signs of dysphagia (frequent coughing, throat clearing, food remaining in the mouth) to ensure the client is eating safely.

Addressing Bradykinesia

Bradykinesia, a characteristic slowness of movement in Parkinson’s disease, is another symptom that increases a client’s risk of fall and injury.

Caregivers play a vital role in helping clients manage bradykinesia by consistently using external cues and rhythmic strategies:

• Providing verbal cues: Using external cues by telling clients what to do (e.g., “first, put on your socks,” then, “now, put on your left pants leg”) which makes movement initiation easier.
• Using rhythmic cues: Teaching clients to use steady beats or rhythm (e.g., counting “1, 2, 3, 4” or listening to music with a strong beat) to maintain a steady, faster gait.
• Breaking down tasks: Advising clients to break down complex movements into smaller, sequential steps.
• Timing activities: Caregivers schedule essential activities of daily living during the times the medication is at its peak effectiveness (usually 30 to 90 minutes after a dose).
• Encouraging movement preparation: Reminding clients to mentally plan and prepare for the movement before immediately trying to execute it.

Sleep Disturbance and Nighttime Safety

Sleep disturbance is a major problem for clients with PD. Due to how PD impacts a client’s physical symptoms and cognitive function, these symptoms directly interrupt a client’s sleep.

The low-quality sleep worsens the client’s PD symptoms during the day, creating a cycle.

Caregivers oversee the client’s sleep and ensure their safety throughout the night by doing the following:

• Establishing a strict sleep schedule: Caregivers help clients maintain a consistent bedtime and wake-up time to reinforce the body’s circadian rhythm.
• Responding to nighttime disturbances: They’re trained to recognize signs of REM Sleep Behavior Disorder (RBD), where clients physically act out vivid, aggressive dreams which can include shouting, kicking, punching, or jumping out of bed. Caregivers sleep nearby to prevent accidents from occurring and they ensure the environment is safe.
• Ensuring transfer safety: If clients need help getting out of bed, the caregiver will have a plan, which can include using a mobility aid like a bed rail or a bed rope, to help reduce the risk of falling from the bed.
• Managing fluid intake: Restricting fluid intake several hours before bedtime to decrease the amount of nighttime trips to the bathroom, a common cause of sleep disruption.
• Promoting evening relaxation: Having a relaxing pre-sleep ritual discourages stimulating activity which makes it easier for clients to sleep.

Who Benefits from Parkinson’s Disease (PD) Support Services?

Our specialized PD services and talented caregivers help clients regain more control over their lives and better manage their symptoms.

Groups who benefit from our Parkinson’s support include:

People living with PD: Our caregivers help improve the client’s quality of life.

Individuals with young-onset PD (YOPD): Caregivers offer support for the unique challenges of managing PD while balancing family, careers, and financial strain.

Overworked family members: Our caregivers relieve family members of care duties, giving them more time to spend on quality connection with their loved ones.

Why Choose Impactful Home Care?

Trained and Vetted Caregiving Professionals

We ensure our caregivers have clean backgrounds and receive the required training to provide the best services.

Personalized Plans to Fit Your Needs

You have unique needs. We get your input to build customized plans based on your needs, preferences, and routines.

Medicaid-Approved Assistance

You’ll be working with a Licensed and Medicaid Approved agency.

Companions Who Are Always There

Our caregivers provide the highest quality of care through compassion and open communication. They help keep loneliness and isolation at bay.

The 3-Step Process Is Easy

We’ve simplified the process for you, so you can get the help you need. Just follow these three steps:

1. Consultation: Give us a call for an evaluation. We’ll ask questions about your needs and situation.
2. Care Plan: With your input, we’ll create specialized plans outlining services, schedules, goals, and preferences.
3. Continuous Support: You can depend on our aides and their supervisors to provide you with consistent updates on your health, care plan, and services.

Families Trust Impactful Home Care

Common Questions About Parkinson’s Disease Support Services

Here are answers to some of the most frequent questions we receive about our personal care services.

What specialized training does your staff receive regarding Parkinson’s Disease?

Our caregivers typically receive the following training:

• Motor symptom management: Learning to counteract bradykinesia (slowness) and using external cues to initiate and sustain movement.
• Safe swallowing: Training which ensures clients are sitting in the upright posture (the chin tuck). Training also focuses on controlling portions, pacing meals, and implementing dietary modifications like thickened liquids to prevent aspiration.
• Nighttime disturbances and safety: Skills for managing sleep issues and preventing falls during nighttime transfers.
• Non-motor support: Learning how to assist with scheduled tasks, managing fatigue, and offering support for mood changes.

What is Freezing of Gait (FOG)?

FOG is a common, often debilitating, symptom linked with advanced Parkinson’s Disease. It’s a brief, episodic absence or marked reduction of forward movement, even though the client is intending to walk. Clients often feel like their feet are “glued to the floor.”

What specific protocols are in place for a severe freezing of gait (FOG) episode that occurs far from the bed or chair?

In severe cases of FOG, the non-medical protocol prioritizes immediate physical stabilization to prevent a fall. Then, the caregiver uses external cues, such as placing an object on the floor to step over or using rhythmic counting to break the freeze. If the external cues fail, caregivers may use a change of action, like asking the client to sit, and once the client unfreezes, they can provide continued support to guide them to a safe resting place.

Are they trained to recognize signs of dysphagia (swallowing difficulty)?

Absolutely. Our caregivers are trained to recognize the signs of dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) and implementing critical safety measures. Signs can include:

• Coughing or choking.
• Throat clearing.
• Having a gurgly or hoarse voice (wet voice) – indicating liquid, food particles, or saliva that’s settled in the pharynx (throat) or larynx (voice box).
• Pocketing food: holding food in cheeks or under the tongue for an extended time without swallowing.
• Food leaking: Drooling or having food/liquid leaking from the client’s mouth or nose.

How are they trained to handle episodes of hallucinations or delusions often associated with PD medication?

Caregivers are trained in non-medical methods to handle hallucinations and delusions, using validation and reassurance instead of arguing with what the client is perceiving. Caregivers focus on safety. They gently redirect the client’s focus and ensure the environment is well-lit to reduce visual misperception. They also observe and document the details to alert the medical team.

How does the agency assess a caregiver’s level of empathy and patience during the hiring process?

Home care agencies can assess a caregiver’s empathy and patience through behavioral interviews. This includes asking situational questions about handling distressed or challenging clients. Employers look for answers which demonstrate active listening, validation, and a calm approach.

Do you accept insurance?

These long-term, non-medical services may be covered by a variety of payment methods, including the Pennsylvania Caregiver Support Program, the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (a Medicaid state program), veteran benefits, and select private insurance plans.

What is the difference between home care and home health care services?

Home care services provide assistance for non-medical needs and are usually long-term care. Home health care services send licensed professionals (nurses and therapists) to your home to provide medical services and are usually short-term and temporary.

Serving Philadelphia and Surrounding Counties

Our Philadelphia home care services reach all of the city and surrounding counties, from the city’s historic residential areas like Queen Village and Bella Vista to the rolling hills of Bucks County.

• Philadelphia
• Bucks County
• Montgomery County
• Delaware County
• Chester County