Many people with Parkinson’s disease will be able to remain at home for an extended period, but others may require increasing care and eventually move to assisted living. Familiarizing yourself with the stages of Parkinson’s can give you an idea of what kind of care the individual may need, including the support one can find in assisted living. Still, it can be challenging to know when that time has come. Here, we will review some typical situations that may indicate it’s time for an individual with Parkinson’s to move to assisted living.

What is Parkinson’s disease, and what are the symptoms?

Parkinson’s disease is a neurological disorder that primarily affects older adults, with more men at risk for the disease than women. Parkinson’s affects the nervous system and typically starts with mild symptoms that progress over time. Symptoms include tremors, poor balance, slowed movements, rigid muscles, and speech and writing changes. Some people will experience additional complications such as swallowing problems, sleep disorders, depression, and bladder changes. The disease affects everyone differently, with some having a slow progression and others more rapid.

Medicines can help with managing symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, but there is no cure, and the benefits of medications often lessen over time. Attention to lifestyle changes can help you control symptoms, enhance quality of life, improve mood, and possibly slow disease progression. Ease of access to a healthy lifestyle and medical providers should be an essential part of the decision-making process when considering assisted living.

An assisted living community can help

Facility features, amenities, and services can help people living with Parkinson’s disease enjoy safety and comfort. Living with Parkinson’s requires the ability to adapt to the changing nature of the disease, and assisted living can provide the individual with necessary services as their needs change. 

Assisted living communities often provide round-the-clock assistance with activities of daily living, medication management, special dietary plans, transportation, and robust and varied activities. This type of support can promote independence and offer opportunities for improved physical and mental health.

When is it time to move to assisted living? The answer isn’t the same for everyone with Parkinson’s disease. Let’s take a look at some of the considerations for making the decision.

Safety at home is a concern

Parkinson’s symptoms, like tremors and balance issues, can contribute to a higher risk of falling or other safety challenges. Consider recent accidents or near accidents and how safe a person feels while doing everyday tasks, like cooking or bathing. Even if an accident hasn’t occurred, it’s best to consider safety before one happens rather than wait until a fall or injury takes place. Assisted living facility services often include meal preparation and caregiver assistance with activities of daily living, so you don’t need to risk your safety to complete these tasks alone once you’re a resident at a community.

Some but not all people with Parkinson’s develop Parkinson’s dementia, which can complicate caregiving. Cognitive decline with memory problems, hallucinations, disorientation, and confusion can heighten caregiver stress and make it challenging to keep someone safe. Staff at assisted living are trained in caregiving for and ensuring the safety of people with many different needs, including those experiencing cognitive decline.

If a person with Parkinson’s disease lives at home, it’s important to ensure the home is accessible and safe. Installing handrails, walk-in bathtubs, or other remodeling might be necessary; however, assisted living facilities are already equipped with these features and amenities to keep you or a loved one safe.

It’s stressful to live at home

Living at home with Parkinson’s can be frightening, even with help. About 60% of people with Parkinson’s fall each year, and having a medical alert system is critical. However, managing activities of daily living with Parkinson’s might be unsafe or too challenging. Consider these questions about living at home and how they make the individual with Parkinson’s disease feel:

• Does living on your own cause stress and anxiety, even if you have a spouse or caregiver?
• Does your home have stairs or other features that make accessibility challenging and unsafe?
• Is it difficult to manage in-home caregivers, whether they are friends, family, or professionals?
• If you are paying for professional caregiving, is the expense nearing what assisted living could cost?

Stress can come from fear of sustaining an injury, guilt for asking a spouse or family for help, and paying a great amount for limited home care services. Living in an assisted living community can help alleviate many of those stressors: Caregivers on staff can help with tasks so family members don’t have to. Though facilities can come at a cost to the resident, these prices cover room, board, and care. The all-in-one price covers most aspects of life, therefore simplifying finances.

Your partner or family caregiver is burned out

Caregiving for a spouse or partner who has Parkinson’s can be stressful and exhausting. During the early stages of Parkinson’s, your spouse may be able to manage independently. However, as the disease progresses, a time may come when additional support is needed, and this could include assisted living. Though spouses and family members care for their loved ones out of love, the stress of being a caregiver can weigh heavily on the individual. Let’s consider some potential issues that a family may feel when it comes to family caregiving:

• Have a spouse’s caregiving duties become too time-consuming and stressful? 

• Do you need help with tasks that are outside the family caregiver’s scope of expertise?
• Does it feel like the dynamics of your relationship with this person have changed?
• Has your family caregiver needed to take significant time off from work to care for you?

Though the family member wants to ensure the individual with Parkinson’s is safe and comfortable, the caregiving may cost the caregiver their mental, financial, and physical health. Assisted living can alleviate this stress and allow the family members to reconnect and spend higher-quality time together.

Considerations for people with Parkinson’s disease who live alone

A person living with Parkinson’s disease who lives alone doesn’t immediately need to move to assisted living. People are adaptable and can continue caring for themselves for some time. It’s important to reflect on your current physical, financial, and emotional situation to determine if and when it’s time to move to assisted living. Here are some questions to consider:

• Are you isolated and lonely?
• Is it challenging to get enough exercise?
• Is transportation an issue? Getting to doctor’s appointments and preventative care is critical to managing Parkinson’s disease. 
• Are you finding it challenging to shop for food and cook nutritious meals?
• Will visiting you in assisted living be more manageable for friends and family?

If you need a little more help at home, you might consider hiring in-home care. Keep in mind that there could be limits to what home care can provide, and their services may not meet your needs. For example, many home care caregivers who can help with bathing, dressing, and meal preparation are not legally allowed to help set up a client’s medications. Those medication services are available at assisted living facilities, however.

Consideration for people with Parkinson’s disease who live with a partner

If the person with Parkinson’s lives with a partner and that person does not require assistance, the couple must decide whether both move to assisted living or not. In this case, the decision may come down to the cost and whether it’s feasible for one person to move and the other to stay in the home.

Many residents of assisted living facilities sell their homes and use the proceeds to pay the monthly cost of living at the community. The couple should examine their finances to determine whether selling the home is necessary or if they have other ways to fund assisted living, such as long-term care insurance or retirement savings.

• Do you need to sell your home to finance assisted living costs, or are there other ways to finance the cost of assisted living?
• If you both move into assisted living, will the caregiving spouse still feel responsible for providing care, or will a solo move to assisted living encourage more independence?
• If you can afford for the spouse who has Parkinson’s to go to assisted living and the remaining spouse to stay at home, how will this affect your relationship?

Moving to assisted living with Parkinson’s disease

Choosing assisted living can involve complex decisions and may not be a perfect solution. However, it may help with many of the problems associated with Parkinson’s disease by providing a layer of support and safety. By considering safety concerns, financial situations, caregiving networks, and other factors, you can confidently decide whether it is time to move to assisted living, ensuring your or a loved one’s safety and well-being.