Caregiver Training: Provide Confident Care For Parkinson’s

Caregivers play a vital role in helping their care recipients manage and live with Parkinson’s disease. However, research has shown that Parkinson’s caregivers struggle with worrying about their care recipient’s safety. On top of managing movement symptoms of the disease, they also struggle with managing the non-movement and emotional aspects of Parkinson’s care. Many of these caregivers want more information about how to manage disease symptoms and understand its progression and complications. This is where caregiver training comes in. Interested in improving your caregiving skills with Trualta? Check if you have free access. 

This article will explore the importance of caregiver training for those supporting people with Parkinson’s disease, outlining key areas of focus for building confidence and providing better care.

Why Caregiver Training For Parkinson’s Is Essential 

Parkinson’s is a complex disease. Since it progresses over time, caregivers play different roles in disease management. Caregivers of an older adult with Parkinson’s are at risk for stress and burnout. This caregiver burden may affect their care recipient’s health because burnout can affect quality of care. Along with worrying about their care recipient or patient, caregivers may worry about losing control over their own lives, too. 

Studies have shown that caregiver education on Parkinson’s disease helps caregivers develop better coping skills, fewer psychosocial problems, and less of a need for help. Caregiver training can help caregivers learn basic skills and manage care tasks like: 

• Personal care tasks, like dressing or bathing.
• Activities of daily living and routines, like helping with feeding or managing medications
• Supporting emotional & psychological symptoms
• Helping caregivers with stress management & preventing burnout

Caregiver training is for everyone–whether you’re a family caregiver or a home health aide. Many training options can meet your learning style and schedule. There are different kinds of caregiver training resources and tools. You can:

• Read articles 
• Watch formal training videos
• Use scenario-based activities 

You can also access more intensive caregiver training through a caregiver certification course. Many of these training options can be accessed online. This makes it easy to fit into your caregiving schedule while learning how to provide better care.

4 Key Skills Caregivers Can Learn In Parkinson’s-Focused Training

Caregiver training can help you build essential skills on your journey to become a savvy caregiver. Here are some skills you can learn from Trualta’s comprehensive training on Parkinson’s disease, managing responsibilities, and other critical skills in caregiving: 

1. Mobility & Safety Strategies

• Fall prevention techniques
• Tips to make the home safer
• Supporting with mobility and transfers
• Mobility aids and technology that make moving easier and safer 
• Managing freezing episodes 

2. Helping With Daily Activities

• Tips to make daily activities easier, like scheduling active tasks during “on” periods after medication kicks in
• How to provide support with activities of daily living, like brushing teeth or shaving
• Managing medications, keeping them organized, and avoiding mistakes

3. Managing Non-Mobility Symptoms

• Providing psychological and emotional support
• Managing and responding to personality and mood changes, like increased anxiety or hallucinations

4. Building Caregiving Skills & Resilience

• Finding resources for care tasks and caregiving support, like respite care
• Gaining time and schedule management skills 
• Building good communication skills with your care recipient 
• Balancing caregiving with other parts of your life 
• How to find and ask for emotional support from professionals, family, and friends
• Building caregiver wellness & self-care
• Navigating the healthcare system
• Preparing for emergencies and gathering important contact information

The Impact Of Caregiver Training

Reading articles or taking a caregiver training course may not seem like they would make a big impact. However, building your knowledge, skills, and understanding of safe practices may: 

• Help you provide better quality care to your care recipient
• Increase your care recipient’s safety and independence
• Support your care recipient to stay at home longer and reduce care costs
• Improve your communication and relationship with your care recipient 
• Help reduce your anxiety and lessen caregiver burden 

Being a caregiver for a person with Parkinson’s disease can have its ups and downs. Whether you access a formal caregiver training program for professional development or watch a video about helping with freezing episodes, caregiver training can help give caregivers confidence and teach them essential skills. 

References

1. A’Campo, L.E.I., Spliethoff-Kamminga, N.G.A., Macht, M. et al. Caregiver education in Parkinson’s disease: formative evaluation of a standardized program in seven European countries. Qual Life Res 19, 55–64 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-009-9559-y 
2. A’campo, L. E. I., Wekking, E. M., Spliethoff-Kamminga, N. G. A., Le Cessie, S., & Roos, R. A. C. (2010). The benefits of a standardized patient education program for patients with Parkinson’s disease and their caregivers. Parkinsonism & related disorders, 16(2), 89-95.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.parkreldis.2009.07.009
3. Navarta-Sánchez MV, Ambrosio L, Portillo MC, Ursúa ME, Senosiain JM, Riverol M. Evaluation of a psychoeducational intervention compared with education in people with Parkinson’s disease and their informal caregivers: a quasi-experimental study. J Adv Nurs. 2020; 76: 2719–2732. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.14476
4. Tan, S.B., Williams, A.F. and Morris, M.E. (2012), Experiences of caregivers of people with Parkinson’s disease in Singapore: a qualitative analysis. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 21: 2235-2246. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2702.2012.04146.x 
5. Williamson, C., Simpson, J., & Murray, C. D. (2008). Caregivers’ experiences of caring for a husband with Parkinson’s disease and psychotic symptoms. Social Science & Medicine, 67(4), 583-589. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2008.04.014

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