Parkinson s Wellness Program.! cover panel 5.75 in. wide "

Transcription

1 Parkinson s Wellness Program! cover panel 5.75 in. wide "

2 Program Overview! 1st inside panel 5.75 in. wide " People with Parkinson s disease often report difficulties with movement and communication, limiting their ability to perform tasks and participate in favorite activities. Given these concerns, experts in the Parkinson s Center and Rehabilitation Medicine have instituted a program that combines comprehensive exercise and education to help patients achieve a better quality of life. Working simultaneously with physical, occupational, and speech therapists, program participants learn how to overcome some of the difficulties stemming from stiffness, uncontrollable movements, and communication issues that are common in Parkinson s disease.

3 Early Roots! 2nd of inside the panel Program 5.75 in. wide " This wellness program was developed at Boston University s Center for Neurorehabilitation. Their research and other reported evidence suggests that people with Parkinson s can improve their day-to-day function through exercise and functional, task-oriented training. Staff members from our facility trained with the experts in Boston and returned to form a Wellness Program in late How the Program Works Each participant receives a manual and an exercise book to encourage practice at home. The program runs for six weeks, with sessions twice a week for one and a half hours each. A care partner is encouraged to attend several sessions to learn the exercises and provide support at home. Sessions are held at the Dartmouth- Hitchcock Aging Resource Center located at 46 Centerra Parkway in Lebanon, NH. Each participant also receives a one hour assessment before the program begins and at the end of the six week series to see their results and talk about how to maintain their progress. Our team focuses on individualizing the program for each participant, taking into account his or her current ability level and goals for enhanced mobility and communication.

4 Sessions! emphasize 3rd inside panel exercise, in. wide " balance and gait training: Exercise: learn stretching, strengthening, and balance exercises with trained therapists by your side Gait training: focus on heel strike and swinging arms evenly while walking to music; tempo gradually increases to step up speed, stride length and rhythm Sessions also include: Speech therapy: practice techniques to improve the strength of your voice, volume level, and breath support; therapist is certified in the scientifically proven Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT /LOUD) Discussion: address quality of life issues by developing three problem-solving approaches change something about yourself, change the strategy you use, or change something about your environment; individuals share experiences at later sessions after using these strategies (see next panel for example issue) Social interaction: each group that has completed the program has commented on how much they enjoy the social aspects of helping, encouraging, and laughing with each other while doing the activities

5 Example issue: Courtesy of Boston University Center for Neurorehabilitation At night I find it difficult to move in bed. How can I move more easily? > Strategies: 1. Change yourself: a. learn flexibility exercises to make it easier to move b. talk with your doctor about your medications to see if changes are necessary to improve movement at night 2. Change strategy: a. stretch before changing position to loosen up your body! 4th inside panel in. wide " b. use momentum or a rocking motion to get your body moving c. count to three before you start moving, 1, 2, 3, GO! d. break the movement down into steps think about each step and then go from one to the next for instance, bend your knees, then look and reach in the direction you are rolling, then turn over e. practice frequently 3. Change environment: a. try out satin sheets or pajamas for ease of sliding b. change a heavy comforter to a lighter bedspread or down comforter to make it easier to move the covers c. cut down on the number of blankets on your bed so you won t get tangled d. buy a bed rail to help you roll in bed > Group discussion topics include: Barriers to exercise, communication and moving in your daily life Benefits of exercise and overcoming barriers Social communication Walking Moving in bed Standing up from chairs Coping with stiffness Coping with tremor Self-management for life Managing falls Talking on the telephone Dressing Relaxation and stress management Handwriting Gardening

6 How to Enroll To participate in the Wellness Program, a person with Parkinson s must be able to: Move about independently, with or without an assistive device Get to and from a restroom independently Follow directions and be able to stay for a one and half hour session Get up and down from the floor with minimal assistance To ensure that this program is appropriate and safe for you, your doctor will be asked to sign a Medical Eligibility Form. Contact the Program Coordinator at the number below to receive a copy of this form. With your! back side flap I in. wide " doctor s approval, you will be enrolled in the next available program. The cost is currently $149 per person; scholarships are available. Enrolling in the Exercise Follow-Up Program To safely take part in DHMC Wellness Classes, participants must be able to: Move about independently, with or without an assistive device Get to and from a restroom independently To register for either of these programs, contact: Diane L. Church, Program Coordinator Parkinson s Center (603) Diane.L.Church@hitchcock.org

7 Program Results Three measures will be used to evaluate participants before and after the program: Functional Gait Assessment - a 10-item measure of walking ability and balance Six Minute Walk - distance covered in six minutes, measured in feet or meters Quality of Life Questionnaire - a self-assessment of one s functional abilities Results from our most recent program ( average change includes scores for all five participants):! back panel in. wide " Functional Gait Assessment: Four improved, one stayed the same. Maximum improvement achieved: 26%; average change: +12% Six Minute Walk: Three improved, two stayed the same. Maximum improvement achieved: 40%; average change: +15% Quality of Life: All improved. Maximum improvement achieved: 27%; average change: +16% Note: Boston University researchers report that some participants perceive a decline in quality of life because they become more aware of problem areas. Exercise Follow-Up Program After completing the Parkinson s Wellness Program, participants are invited to join our ongoing DHMC Wellness Classes. These classes are for those who have benefited from various DHMC Rehabilitation Medicine programs and would like to maintain and enhance gains they have made in balance, strength, and/or flexibility. Classes are available twice weekly in our Lebanon facility. There are not specific start and end dates, allowing participants to come to one-hour sessions whenever they wish. Our therapists lead all sessions to make sure you are challenged but that the exercises are safe.

8 Parkinson s Wellness Program Team Diane L. Church Program Coordinator Katrina Milo Speech-Language Pathologist Greg Morneau Occupational Therapist Dawna Pidgeon Physical Therapist! back side flap II 5.75 in. wide " Maggie Saracino Physical Therapist Assistant Dennis Tobin Occupational Therapist Parkinson s Wellness Program patients.d-h.org/parkinsons (603) Diane.L.Church@hitchcock.org