Tools to navigate a hospital stay with Parkinson’s disease
Avoiding medication timing issues, other complications while inpatient
If you are at all familiar with Parkinson’s disease, you’re probably aware of the importance of medication. It’s used for symptom control only, as there is no known cure or disease-modifying therapy for Parkinson’s.
Most Parkinson’s symptoms are caused by a lack of dopamine signaling in the brain. Therefore, many Parkinson’s drugs are designed to either temporarily replenish or mimic the action of dopamine. This can help ease symptoms such as stiffness, tremor, dystonia, fatigue, and slowness of movement.
Not only is medication important for controlling and easing the debilitating symptoms of Parkinson’s, but precise timing is critical as well. Many Parkinson’s medications are used to maintain consistent and stable levels of dopamine in the brain, and delaying a dose disrupts this balance, leading to a rapid and significant worsening of symptoms.
Like many people living with Parkinson’s, my husband, Arman, is on a strict regimen of medications that are methodically planned and timed to provide him the best possible symptom control. We work very closely with our movement disorder team to determine the optimal schedule and doses.
Over the years, I have read about people with Parkinson’s experiencing difficulties with medication administration while hospitalized. According to the Parkinson’s Foundation, 3 in 4 Parkinson’s patients don’t receive their medication on time in the hospital. The organization also estimates that “every year, 1 in 6 people with Parkinson’s will experience avoidable complications in the hospital, often related to issues with medication management, mobility, and dysphagia.”
Helpful resources
Due to the multitude of challenges patients may experience while in the hospital, the Parkinson’s Foundation developed the Hospital Safety Guide. The tools and resources it includes are a must-have during a hospitalization. The key is to review and prepare them in advance of an emergency.
It is critical to advocate for your loved one with Parkinson’s disease at all times, but especially during a hospitalization. Having the necessary planning tools on hand makes this process much easier and more effective. I was able to use many of these resources during Arman’s recent hospital stay.
Hospitals are slowly catching on to the needs of people with Parkinson’s and how they differ from other patients. I learned that the main campus of our local hospital, the Cleveland Clinic, recently implemented a program to “enhance the quality and safety of care” for hospitalized Parkinson’s patients. The goal is to improve health outcomes and avoid possible complications.
I hope other hospitals will recognize the benefits of this and implement similar programs. In the meantime, I recommend being prepared for emergencies and hospitalizations.
Note: Parkinson’s News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Parkinson’s News Today or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to Parkinson’s disease.
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