Parkinson's Disease Program
Improving function, independence and quality of life for individuals with movement disorders.
The Parkinson Disease Program at RHCI's Center for NeuroRecovery provides specialized rehabilitation care to help patients with Parkinson's Disease and other movement disorders reach their highest possible level of function and independence. Advances in understanding Parkinson's Dieases (PD), coupled with advances in medical interventions and rehabilitation techniques, offer new hope for adults who have these neurological conditions. At RHCI, specialized rehabilitation care can reduce symptoms of PD, improve the ability to perform activities of daily living and enhance quality of life.
The person with Parkinson Disease may be eligible for inpatient rehabilitation at RHCI when there is a significant decline in ability to function. In addition to improving mobility, self-care, speech and other key abilities, RHCI's program emphasizes education of the patient and family to increase their understanding of the effects of the disease and determine the level of assistance necessary to support the patient's maximum independence.
Program Components
- Comprehensive, multi-disciplinary evaluation of the patient's medical, functional and behavioral status
- Consultation with on-site neurologist with expertise in the behavioral and psychiatric effects of neurological disorders as needed
- Case management to
- Establish and coordinate an individualized, outcome-oriented treatment plan, including patient-centered discharge planning.
- Communicate with insurers
- Develop links for community resources
- 24-hour nursing care with an emphasis on medication management to promote optimum benefit from therapy
- On-site pharmacy
- Nutrition counseling and support
- Team approach to fall prevention
- Therapies and Technology
- Therapists skilled in the techniques of neuro-rehabilitation
- Specialized speech therapy, including speech and language pathologists certified in the Lee Silverman Voice Treatment and Vital-Stim therapy for impaired swallowing.
- Advanced technology to improve mobility, including the LiteGait body weight support system
- Home safety evaluation
- Therapeutic recreation activities to assist with community involvement, including adapted golf.
