Parkinson’s Disease

HOW WE CAN HELP

At Get Going Solutions Centre, our Occupational Therapist will conduct an extensive, comprehensive assessment to determine the type of difficulty, the severity, as well as the impact on Activities of Daily Living (“ADL”). A detailed report will be completed, along with a treatment plan specific to each individual’s needs. Recommendations for the safest diet will be made in order to avoid any further health complications.

Intervention can focus on:

• Finding alternative methods / compensatory strategies to perform activities of daily living (e.g. bathing, dressing, using the toilet)

• Addressing deficits such as weakness, sensory loss, and cognitive or visual impairments that limit engagement in ADLs and instrumental ADLs (“IADLS”) (IADLS: carrying groceries, cooking a meal, managing money, parenting)

• Provide cognitive retraining exercises to address specific cognitive skills, such as attention, memory and executive functioning

• Assessing the home and work environment to identify potential hazards and to create a more functional environment specific to the client's needs

• Recommending special equipment or assistive devices / technology for use at home, school or work

• Teaching the client and caregiver how to properly use adaptive equipment, like orthotics, braces or wheelchairs

• Recommending exercises to strengthen fine motor skills, coordination and cognition

• Teaching the client and/or caregiver on exercises and home programmes for carryover in the home

• Educating the client and caregiver on energy effectiveness strategies and stress management techniques to promote well being

• Environmental and behavioural modifications (home and job-site)

• Home modifications may include accessible designs for all rooms in one’s house, ramps, wheelchair lifts or elevators and stair lifts

• Positioning to maintain range of motion, and minimize pain