PARKINSON’S TRAINING FOR CAREGIVERS

Parkinson’s disease is a chronic and progressive movement disorder that affects at least one million people in the U.S. alone, and that number will likely increase due to the aging Baby Boomers population. Few in-home care employment agencies provide specialized caregiver training in Parkinson’s disease care. This underscores the commitment of an agency to offer skilled services while allowing aging clients to maintain the best quality of life possible in the comfort of their own homes. When searching for an in-home care employment agency, look for one that has training and information to help families understand how Parkinson’s disease affects families and relationships, and provides content to help these individuals understand the course of action that may be best for them. Family caregivers trained in Parkinson’s disease can help make those they love who live with Parkinson’s disease more comfortable and independent. In-home care employment agencies that train their caregivers in how to provide care for those who live with Parkinson’s disease comes from in-depth training on how to care for seniors with a variety of age-related ailments. Parkinson’s disease is a unique challenge for caregivers, which is why few in home care employment agencies have invested so extensively to train their employed caregivers.

These caregivers are provided with the best information and tools available to make sure all their clients who live with Parkinson’s can live in comfort and as independently as possible given their condition. Hiring a caregiver on your own may appear to be less expensive. However, the cost difference becomes negligible when time, taxes, insurance, training and your security are factored in. A reputable in-home care employment agency must now be licensed with the State of California and can save you money and protect you from potential legal problems and financial responsibility. “What To Look For And Questions To Ask Before Hiring A Home Care Agency”, which I authored, can be found in the March 2016 PRO Newsworthy Notes and in addition to the questions to ask in that article, you might want to include, “Are your caregivers trained in caring for a person with Parkinson’s disease?” Not all agencies have caregivers trained in caring for Parkinson’s people, some may not even know what Parkinson’s disease is. If you or your loved one has Parkinson’s, the answer to this question should be very important to you.

Kerry Goss and Senior Helpers of the Desert have been members of the PRO Wellness Village since March 2013. In addition to being extremely compassionate about her work in the community, Kerry maintains Parkinson’s education for her Caregivers, specifically to work in our community. The feedback we receive from our constituents has given Kerry Goss and Senior Helpers of the Desert extremely high grades.