Mum is currently in a care home as she has diagnosed Alzheimers. Currently self funding. She was moved into the home after safe guarding issues with falls in her home in addition to wandering and confusion.
Her mobility over the last six months has gone downhill rapidly even though she moves around more at the home than when she was in her own house. She now shuffles with a zimmer frame but has one leg that she seems to scrape along behind her, her movement has slowed really down and she has hand tremors and her hand writing is unrecognisable.
We have history of Parkinsons in the family (Mum’s Dad) if that is relevant. Someone mentioned that getting a diagnosis if it is parkinsons might mean more options for mum in terms of treatment but also could mean we qualify sooner for CHC funding.
It seems difficult to judge between the impact of parkinsons and the impact of alzheimers. How easy would it be to get a diagnosis taking into account her existing health conditions and is it worth it?
Good evening cinnamon009 … I’m 70, I have Parkinson’s, peripheral neuropathy, arthritis & suffer with atrial fibrillation.
There is no 100% way of proving someone has Parkinson’s. If Parkinson’s is suspected then the treatment is usually dopamine replacement medication. This medication has side effects like sleep disorders, nightmares, constipation etc …
Also fatigue & tiredness during waking hours.
It is a case of working out whether the benefits, which there are for me, are worth the downside which there is for me.
I would doubt whether a person with Alzheimer’s would be able to say whether they felt better or worse.
It seems reasonable from what you say that your Mum is likely to be diagnosed as someone who has signs of Parkinsonism, which is the phrase they use.
I have no idea whether you would qualify earlier for funding.
I am certainly no expert.
If it were my Mum & she was relatively comfortable & happy & getting the most out of her life I would leave things be.
Not an easy question. The drugs for PD can cause problems with hallucinations sometimes and other side effects but that is not true for everyone. If she’s mobile (and even if not) and has PD then treating her may improve her quality of life. There are movment disorder clinics who can see and assess and then advise people on risks and benefits. The first place is to start with her GP. THere’s no obligation to take medications even if offered, so there’s nothing really to lose by asking about it.
I totally agree. Having a diagnosis of PD may bring drugs which can improve quality of life. Not all PD drugs come with side effects (I have had none) and issues of sleep disorders are often part of PD rather than as a consequence of treatment. Having a clearer picture of the PD situation may assist with future funding if the nature of her care changes.
I firmly believe that age and comorbidities should not be a barrier to the best medical care available.
Hope this helps.
Doug
