2 The impact of Parkinson’s

2.1 Introduction

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Having worked through Section 1 [Tip: hold Ctrl and click a link to open it in a new tab. (Hide tip)]   you have a general understanding of what parkinsonism is, what Parkinson’s is, their causes, how many people have Parkinson’s and the average age at which they are diagnosed. You also now know how Parkinson’s is diagnosed and how it progresses.

In this section we look at the following questions:

  • How can I help people with Parkinson’s manage their symptoms?
  • What impact does Parkinson’s have on people’s daily life?

This section starts with a short video recorded by Tracy Jack. In the video, Tracy introduces herself, where she works and what she gained from doing this course. She also talks about the impact of Parkinson’s on the daily lives of the people she works with, and looks at how the course has helped her develop her own practice.

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Learning outcomes

The purpose of Section 2 is to give you an understanding of the impact that Parkinson’s can have on an individual and their loved ones. We will discuss both the motor symptoms and non-motor symptoms, and how they can be managed.

By the end of this section you should be able to identify and describe:

  • the common challenges that the main motor and non-motor symptoms present to a person with Parkinson’s
  • how Parkinson’s can fluctuate and how this impacts on the person living with the condition
  • the ways in which these challenges can impact on a person’s quality of life
  • how Parkinson’s can affect a person’s relationship with their loved ones
  • how a person’s preferences are taken into account when supporting them to manage their Parkinson’s.

2.2 How can I help people with Parkinson’s manage their symptoms?