How to modify a home for Parkinson’s

by Katya Lukina

Section Editor

On Feb. 17, LW residents gathered in the Optum Health Care Center to learn how to adapt their homes for living with Parkinson’s disease. Not everyone had Parkinson’s, but they all had an opportunity to ask questions and learn more from the group facilitator, Becky Kohl.

According to the American Medical Association, approximately 90,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease each year. While this condition cannot be reversed, some minor to moderate home modifications can help people with Parkinson’s keep their homes safe and maintain their independence.

The most common modifications mentioned by Kohl include lighting like nightlights and motion lights, rubber backing for area rugs, pill boxes, lever handles for doors, grab bars, grabbers and more. More significant modifications include wheelchair ramps, railings, toilet seat risers and others. Even a simple gadget such as Amazon Alexa, added Kohl, can assist with small hands-free tasks.

Kohl also emphasized the importance of keeping a home free of clutter to prevent falls, including too many gadgets laying around, craft projects and even pets. While pets make great companions, people should always be vigilant about their four-legged friends whereabouts.

She also advised printing out the list of current medications and keeping it in a wallet in case of emergency.

To learn more about Parkinson’s disease, visit www.parkinson.org.