Tips for Caregivers
Because Parkinson’s disease is a progressive disease, you’ll find your role as a caregiver growing as the person you care for exhibits more symptoms, and as their symptoms become more pronounced. As the patient’s ability to remain independent decreases, you’ll have to shoulder more of the responsibility for care.
With your changing role in mind, here are some tips for making each day as smooth as possible for both of you.
Be a Companion
Your presence at doctor visits may help them feel more relaxed, and gives you a chance to tell the doctor about any changes in the patient’s condition.
Take Notes
Taking good notes (especially at doctor visits) lets the patient focus on communicating with their doctor. It can also help you and the patient by having an outline of specific questions for the doctor based on notes you’ve taken during the course of your caregiving, and can help clarify instructions or recommendations provided by the doctor.
Stay Organized
Helping your patient organize medicines and other routine tasks makes each day easier. And keeping yourself organized reduces your stress and keeps you relaxed for the all-important job of providing daily care.
Be Encouraging
Encourage the patient to stay physically and mentally active, to take all medicines as directed by the doctor, and to eat a balanced diet.
Learn First-Aid
Learn first-aid techniques, including CPR, the Heimlich maneuver and others.
Learn More About Early-Stage
Learn More About Advanced-Stage
Prescription REQUIP XL is not for everyone. REQUIP XL may cause you to fall asleep or feel very sleepy during normal activities such as driving; or to faint or feel dizzy, nauseated, or sweaty when you stand up. Tell your doctor if you experience these or the following problems, or if you drink alcohol or are taking other medicines that make you drowsy. Side effects may include nausea, dizziness, drowsiness or sleepiness, headache, and sudden uncontrolled movements (dyskinesia). Increase or decrease in blood pressure and heart rate may occur. Hallucinations may occur at any time during treatment. Also tell your doctor if you experience new or increased gambling, sexual, or other intense urges while taking REQUIP XL. REQUIP XL may increase the side effects of L-dopa. Most patients were not bothered enough to stop taking REQUIP XL.