Nursing Assessment and Care for Patients with Parkinson's Disease

This report analyzes Parkinson's disease, a neurodegenerative condition affecting elderly individuals, focusing on its impact on activities of daily living (ADLs) such as sleeping, eating, walking, and dressing. It highlights the increasing prevalence of Parkinson's disease in Australia and its association with various complications including sleep problems, speech difficulties, cognitive impairment, and bladder issues. The report emphasizes the importance of patient safety, particularly concerning nutrition and fluid balance, fall prevention, and psychological support. It provides nursing interventions to improve patient outcomes, including ensuring adequate nutrition, creating a safe environment, and offering psychological support to address anxiety and depression. The report concludes that effective nursing care, which considers the disease's impact on ADLs and prioritizes patient safety, can significantly improve the quality of life for individuals with Parkinson's disease. References from various studies support the nursing interventions discussed in this report.

Foundations of nursing practice
Introduction
Elderly people are a significant group who need efficient health care. Ageing increases the
possibility of acquiring certain disease conditions that can impact the normal function. The
prevalence of the aged population in Australia shows that the population increases every year.
The aged people above the age of 65 in Australia covers 15% of the total population which is
about 3.8million. One in five elderly people is diagnosed at the age of 50 with Parkinson’s
diseases. This assessment analysis the Parkinson’s diseases, associated degenerative
condition, impact on the activities of daily living (ADL), and suggestions for patient safety
that need to be considered in nursing care.
Parkinson’s disease affects the physical and mental health of elderly people. The
consequences of the disease significantly impact the daily activities and mental health of the
affected person. Sleep problems like insomnia, sleep attacks, and extreme daytime sleepiness
are common issues that affect the individual with Parkinson’s (Lee, Shine, & Lewis, 2015).
Some of Parkinson’s medication can cause sleep problems. Speech problems cause them to
speak in an unchanged tone, Slurred and hoarse speech. Mild to moderate cognitive
impairment is the main complication associated with the disease condition. Bladder problems
like urgency, frequency, nocturia and incontinence affect the daily activities and sleep.
Worsening of the condition causes anxiety, depression and forgetfulness (Department of
Health, 2020). Food and nutrition intake is significantly affected as the disease affects the
ability to chew and swallow. When the disease worsens standing posture and walking is
drastically affected. The disease impacts the speech, sleep, walking, eating, and elimination
needs which can affect the activities of daily living.
The major complication of Parkinson’s disease is the impact on the basic daily activities of an
individual. Common daily activities of an individual are bathing, sleeping, eating, walking

and dressing. Complication significantly affects the quality of life. The impact of the disease
initiates parallel to the disease and gradually progress the disease progresses. The disease
affects the person physically and mentally (Lubomski, Rushworth, & Tisch, 2015). Food and
nutrition intake is affected as the person finding difficulty in feeding himself. Lack of proper
nutrition advances the disease. Impact of the disease affects the sleep pattern of the person
which induces day time sleep. An affected individual finds difficulty in bathing as the
movement is limited.
Walking is also considered as the essential need for elderly people. Walking improves muscle
strength and confidence. But the persons with Parkinson’s disease find difficulty in walking
which also affect transportation. Dressing up becomes difficult for the person with Parkinson
disease (Jones et al. 2016). The dressing may take more time and need assistance in some
cases. Cognitive impairment caused due to the Parkinson’s diseases affects the person
drastically. The disease affects some part of the brain leads to memory loss and impairment in
thinking. Impact of the disease on the Activities of daily life and cognitive impairment leads
to psychological issues like anxiety, fear and depression.
Suggestions for patient safety
Nutrition and fluid balance is a major issue that impacts the affected person. Parkinson
disease impacts the food and fluid intake which serves as the primary cause for the
progression of the disease condition. Adequate nutrition and fluid intake improve the
condition of the person. Both food and medication affect each other. Some of the protein-rich
diets may affect the absorption of the medication. A nutritious diet and adequate fluid intake
is the primary medication for the disease condition. Sheard et al. (2014) have done a study on
the importance of nutritious food intake for Parkinson’s patient and confirms that good
nutrition improves the quality of life.

Fall and injury are common complications related to ageing. But in the case of Parkinson’s
disease, fall and injury are the recurrent happenings. Physical weakness, imbalance, impaired
motor senses and neurological impairment are the causes for the fall and injury (Pelicioni et
al. 2019). The person’s physical and mental health is significantly affected due to the fall and
related injury. The nurses caring for patients with Parkinson’s disease need to prioritize the
safety of the patient. The affected person has to be assisted for walking, and in elimination
needs. Canning et al. (2015) state that physical exercise can improve the physical strength
and self –esteem of the person.
A safe environment improves the activities of the person. Good lighting aids the person to
view the environment ((Hayes et al. 2010). Removal of obstructive objects prevents the fall
and injury. The nurse has to ensure that the floor is dry and free of clutters. The affected
person needs to be assisted if he/she is in an advanced stage. The essential things should be at
the reachable distance. Physical exercise and therapy have to be provided regularly to
improve the physical and bone strength of the person. McGinley et al. (2012) state that
physical therapy with fall prevention education provides an effective result.
The disease is significantly associated with psychological issues. The Parkinson’s disease
comprises of cognitive impairment, memory loss, anxiety and depression. Cognitive
impairment and memory loss are the psychological problems that are associated with the
disease condition (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2020). The nurse has to
periodically orient the person to place and time. The nurses have to provide an adequate
explanation for the patient’s queries. The repeated explanation has to be rendered as per the
need of the person. Anxiety and depression are the results of Parkinson’s disease (Hayes et al.
2010). The impact of the disease condition significantly affects the psychological stability of
the person. The nurse has to ensure psychological support to the patient for a better outcome.

Australian government provides support in various ways to enhance the life of the affected
people. (MS Queensland, 2020).
Conclusion
Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative condition that affects elderly people. The disease
condition affects the sleep, speech, walking, dressing and eating. The affected population
needs health care support to manage and to overcome the dreadful disease. Parkinson’s
disease significantly affects the Activities of Daily Living of the person. The nurses caring
for the affected population need to be aware of the impact of the disease and the management
strategies. The nurse has to extend the support in meeting the Activities of Daily Living for
the person and improve the condition. Ageing with adequate health care support can improve
the physical and mental health of the affected population.

References
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