PD is a neurodegenerative disease caused by the body’s failure to produce the necessary amount of dopamine, the chemical required for smooth muscle movements. Dopamine is essential to the body because it aids in relaying messages that control muscle activity back and forth between the brain and the body. When that relay is interrupted, a person’s ability to both initiate physical activity and control movement is impaired.
This is what causes the physical symptoms so commonly associated with PD, such as shaky hands, problems walking, stiff muscles, and difficulty with speech. These symptoms create unique challenges for the person with the disease and the family members who’ve taken on the caregiving role. Because it is a progressive disease, the person with PD will require more care and assistance as time goes by.
How Assisted Living Communities Benefit People with Parkinson’s
Because providing around-the-clock care for a loved one at home isn’t feasible for many families, an assisted living community may be a solution to consider. Not only are these communities designed with safety in mind, they can also help improve quality of life for a resident who has PD. That, in turn, allows the family caregiver an opportunity to return to being a spouse or adult child.
A private, accessible living suite, the 24/7 support of caregivers, and a rich variety of activities to participate in can help an adult with Parkinson’s enjoy the most independent lifestyle possible. That gives an assisted living resident a sense of empowerment and pride that isn’t easy to come by as the disease advances.
A few of the many benefits an assisted living community offers to people with PD include:
Caregivers on site 24/7 to support personal care needs
Environment designed to minimize fall risks
Well-balanced meals that promote nutrition and core strength
Medication assistance and monitoring
Fitness programs essential for people with Parkinson’s
Laundry and housekeeping services
Mobile physicians and healthcare professionals can visit community
Daily life enrichment activities to nurture the body, mind, and spirit
In addition to the benefits outlined above, some senior living providers have taken their commitment to serving adults with PD a step further. These communities, including Bella Vita Assisted Living, are certified through the Parkinson & Movement Disorder Alliance (PMD Alliance).
How Does an Assisted Living Community Earn the CPDC™ Designation?
PMD Alliance is a national nonprofit dedicated to helping the 40 million people with movement disorders to live a meaningful quality of life. One way they do this is by teaching senior care partners how to create an environment that supports success for adults with Parkinson’s disease. The certification is known as Certified Parkinson Disease Care™ (CPDC™). This comprehensive training program covers PD issues ranging from medication management to physical therapies and care planning.
Consider Bella Vita Your Parkinson’s Partner
Bella Vita is the only CPDC™ assisted living community and one of just three certified long-term providers in the entire state of Arizona. The intimate size of our communities, just ten residents each, is ideal for supporting an adult with PD. Residents also appreciate that each caregiver at Bella Vita cares for just 5 residents at a time, much lower than a typical assisted living community.
Our locations are convenient for families in Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Paradise Valley. Schedule your tour today, and you’ll see firsthand how this unique certification helps Bella Vita set the standard for Parkinson’s care in the Phoenix metro area!