Movement Disorders and Seniors: What You Should Know
Brushing your teeth, pouring your morning coffee, or buttoning your shirt may all appear to be routine tasks you could do with your eyes closed. However, these simple everyday activities may seem as challenging as climbing Mount Everest for a senior with movement disorders.
A movement disorder is a neurological condition that leads to abnormal increased or decreased movements, which may be voluntary or involuntary. That’s because these simple actions depend on a not-so-simple interaction between your brain, nerves, and muscles. With movement disorders, this interaction is impaired, leaving you struggling with movement. Living with a movement disorder can be challenging. But with the correct information, expectations, and preparations, your best life is still possible.
Most Common Movement Disorders in seniors
Although movement disorders can occur at any age–including some genetic– many begin becoming more problematic in older adults and accompanying other balance or weakness problems that happen simultaneously. Here are the most common types of movement disorders in seniors:
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Parkinson’s disease
It is a neurodegenerative disorder that worsens with time. It leads to tremors, decreased movement, stiffness in the limbs, or imbalance. This disease can affect almost every aspect of a person’s daily life. - Dystonia
This movement disorder involves sustained involuntary muscle contractions with twisting and repetitive movements. - Essential Tremor
This condition leads to involuntary rhythmic shaking of different parts of the body. It is among the most common movement disorders and can cause extreme frustration in seniors as they lose physical control of their movements. - Huntington’s disease
It is an inherited disease that causes nerve cells in specific brain parts to deteriorate with time. This progressive neurodegenerative disorder causes uncontrolled movements, impaired cognitive abilities, and psychiatric conditions.
Caring for Seniors with Movement Disorders
A diagnosis of a movement disorder comes with many questions, concerns, and a lot of changes. It is a condition that affects seniors and is also a life-altering event for their caregivers. If you are one of those caregivers, you are not alone.
Here is how our Right at Home Salem team suggests that seniors and their caregivers can work to manage the various challenges that come with these conditions.
- Physical Support
The first thing to do is to address the changing physical needs of your loved one. Discuss the different tasks they perform every day, keep track of their medication and doctor appointments, and take over household duties. In short, offer your physical support wherever you can. - Emotional Support
Movement disorder can affect every aspect of your loved one’s daily life. From basic and routine tasks to social activities – everything changes. These changes are bound to take a toll on your loved one’s emotional and mental health. Make it a point to be there for them and offer emotional support with understanding, patience, and love. It may help to encourage them to do the things they can still do and find support groups specifically for individuals with movement disorders to help them feel less alone. - Ask for Help
Being the primary caregiver for a senior with movement disorders can be exhausting. So, make sure to ask for help, as your health is just as important. Find the most qualified in-home care for your loved one, and you will see the tremendous difference it can make.
Find Help with Right At Home Salem
Dealing with movement disorders in seniors is all about making a plan, sticking to it, and finding the right in-home caring service. Learn more about our variety of services and find your custom care plan with our team! Help your loved one the right way, and soon they will regain control of their life.