Franco’s story
Parkinson’s is an illness that doesn’t discriminate, and Franco is proof of just that.
Franco moved into The Cannons Extra Care Service in 2024 after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease nine years ago. Having previously worked as a chef and owning eight restaurants during his time in the food industry, Franco had to stop working as his illness continued to progress.
Impacting his mobility, coordination and more recently, his memory, Franco has since been diagnosed with dementia with Lewy bodies.
Due to his health, Franco has difficulty completing some day to day tasks, struggling to understand that he is no longer able to do the things he once could, without support or hallucinations. Whilst Franco appeared well in the morning, he would have freezing episodes in the afternoon which would paralyse him, requiring ongoing support from Radis staff.
Franco found it increasingly difficult to accept his declining health, therefore it was important that Radis and the multidisciplinary teams handled this with care, creating an appropriate care plan. Prioritising independence, a sense of freedom and overall fulfilment, providing support is much more than the day to day care a person requires.
Now, with the support of Radis Community Care, Franco is enjoying life with a new sense of freedom by visiting a community day centre twice a week and hosting his very own Friday night dinner twice a month, enabling him to relive his love for cooking and hosting.
More than 160,000 people are living with Parkinson’s in the UK, so it’s vital to raise as much awareness of the condition as possible.
As well as impacting the lives of those living with the condition, it also affects their friends, family and loved ones. It can be a big change for everyone – adapting to a life with Parkinson’s, so it’s important that everybody is fully equipped to provide the appropriate care and support required.
For some, the symptoms may take a little longer to develop and may not need any further support just yet, however knowledge is power. With that in mind, it’s crucial that people know what to expect and how they can help.
In this piece, Lorna Regan, Head of Clinical Services for leading care provider at Radis Community Care shares five ways people can support a loved one living with Parkinson’s.
1. Research
Knowledge really is power. The symptoms of Parkinson’s can vary quite a lot, and so it’s important to understand current and future symptoms and how to prepare for it.
Understand how Parkinson’s can affect a person both physically and mentally, and educate yourself on the different ways a person may be affected by the progressive condition.
2. Start a conversation
It can be difficult for everybody, but especially the person diagnosed and living with Parkinson’s. If a friend, family member or loved one is living with the condition, then check in with them, see how they are and make regular visits. And, talk to them about something other than condition – see what else is going on in their lives and have a proper catch up.
A person living with Parkinson’s may not notice any new symptoms or changes, especially if they begin to appear slowly and gradually. However, if you visit a loved one on a regular basis, you may be able to notice changes in their physical and mental health as well as any new symptoms.
Symptoms can be both physical and cognitive and some to look out for are; a tremor, muscle stiffness, slowness of movement, constipation and frequently passing urine, depression and anxiety, and memory issues.
A change in symptoms and any concerns should always be discussed with a medical professional, and passing on these concerns early, can kickstart treatment and improve the symptoms and overall health and wellbeing.
3. Consider utilising community care services
This depends on how much a person is affected by Parkinson’s. For some, they may be able to live an entirely independent life for many years, however others may need more regular support and care.
Consider support at home or extra care services to help a loved one continue living a life of independence.
The help of a support worker can offer short-term and long-term care as well as respite for family carers. From daily visits and check ins to round the clock care, the choice is yours and can be entirely tailored to meet individual needs.
4. Stay connected
Living with a disease such as Parkinson’s can be a very isolating time, so it is important for people to remain active and connected with their friends, family members and local communities.
Staying physically and mentally fit is crucial, and getting involved in local coffee mornings, community bingo events and wiggle and giggle such as those held at local community centres, is a great way to remain active.
Regular exercise can help ease muscle stiffness and improve overall mood and feelings of stress, so it’s important to stay as active as possible, too.
Noticing the symptoms worsening can lead to feelings of anxiety and depression, and exercise is a great way to combat these feelings with a boost of serotonin.
5. Just be you
A lot will have changed for the person now living with Parkinson’s, and as their loved one, this will undoubtedly change things for you, too. However, your loved one will need consistency and will not want you to change how you act or behave around them, as well as how you treat them.
You may now help them with tasks that you hadn’t previously, however outside of this, it’s important for your relationship with them to stay relatively the same.
Be there when they want to talk, listen to them, and go about your usual routines as this will help them feel much more comfortable and at ease with their new-found situation.
Those are Lorna’s top tips for supporting a loved one with Parkinson’s. However, there is so much to consider when trying to support or care for a loved one with such a complex condition.
It’s important to remember you don’t have to do it alone and support is there should you need it, too.
