
Occupational Therapy for Parkinson's PWR! Wellness Series
November 18th, 2020
4:30-6:00 pm (Arizona Time)
Occupational therapists empower people to increase independence and overall function in daily life activities. Emily Rich, a PWR!Moves Certified Therapist, will share an overview of strategies OTs implement in treating symptoms of PD. She will share strategies for improving fine motor skills needed for: buttoning clothes, tying shoes, writing by hand, and feeding/eating. She will also share techniques to increase safety in the bathroom, prevent falls, make modifications to conserve energy and decrease fatigue, encourage independence in kitchen tasks and cognitive/thinking skills, achieve restful sleep, and more.
Previously Recorded Wellness Series
Wellness Series Summary: Occupational Therapy for Parkinson’s Disease with Emily Rich, OTR/L, M.O.T.
Below is a summary of the presentation.
How can an occupational therapist benefit you?
- Improve your ability to perform activities of daily living
- Energy conservation techniques
- Strategies to improve fine motor skills
- Increasing safety and independence in the home
- Techniques for improved sleep
Dressing
- Use a button hook to assist with dressing
- Swap out your shoelaces for no tie laces
- Take medications prior to dressing
- Perform hand boosts before dressing!
Handwriting
- Build up your writing utensil
- Write on a vertical surface
- Make sure your shoulder and legs are supported on a solid surface
- Use wide ruled lined paper
- Practice daily!
Eating and Feeding
- Use weighted utensils or utensils with a built-up handle
- Perform hand boosts before eating!
Energy Conservation
- Get into a routine
- Take breaks as needed
- Don’t overdo it
Creating a Safe Environment
- Reduce clutter
- Remove rugs
- Place chairs around the home for seated breaks
Sleep
- Get into a routine
- Decrease stimulation one hour before bedtime
- Make sure you have good lighting during the day and adequate darkness at night
- Practice belly breathing with a focus on long exhales through the nose
Orthostatic Hypotension
- Get up slowly
- Drink around 100 ounces of fluids daily
- Eat multiple smaller meals instead of a few large meals
- Before standing, cross your legs and squeeze them together or squeeze your glutes
- If you feel lightheaded, squat or sit back down
Cognition
- Limit multi-tasking
- Use calendars and alarms as reminders
- Practice mindfulness
- Mentally rehearse what you need to do to prepare
- Keep a positive attitude
Medication
- Keep medication in the same place somewhere that is easy to remember
- Create a medication list with all of your medications, why you are taking them, and any that you have stopped taking
- MediSafe app is great for reminders
- Med-Q is a digital pillbox
- Online pharmacies are available too (ex. PillPack)
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