The Dominican Foundation against Parkinson disease made this Saturday his sixth working day aimed at caregivers of people living with this progressive nervous system disease that affects movement.
According to the Foundation’s medical director, Marcia Castillo, The main objective of this meeting is “to educate and psycho-educate on how caregivers can have a better quality of life and offer tools on how to carry out such a difficult day-to-day with patients with neurodegenerative diseases”.
“The Parkinson’s It is the second neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer’s.it is not as rare as people believe and it is undermining the autonomy of the patient every day”, he highlighted.
The neurologist commented that, at present, “the panorama looks increasingly hopeful because there are emerging drugs” although this disease still generates fear, “first because it alters the family dynamics and second, because by not having support from the State and health policies because the medication is very expensive, it sometimes generates that alienation, that apathy”.
Castillo calls on caregivers to practice self-care of their physical and mental health, because “the caregiver burns, what we call syndrome burn-out or caregiver burnout.
The specialist stressed that it is a process of empathy, “one cares because one loves, but one must also have education tools”.
Among those necessary tools, the doctor cited: knowing the physical exercise processes of her patient, how to feed him and the hours of rest and bed rest, how to do the daily routine without mistreating the patient.
“Empathy, patience, but above all educationthat is a pivotal tool for good care,” Castillo assured about the basic gifts that every caregiver should have.
He also highlighted the importance of support groups and the support of non-profit foundations and societies for patients with neurodegenerative diseases.
Inside of working day several specialists intervened, such as the neuropsychologist Alexander Mariñez, who spoke about a practical look at neurostimulation at home; the doctor Yisenia Brito with nutritional considerations for patients with Parkinson’s; Sonia Torrealba with recommendations on home exercises, as well as other presentations that included changes in the home structure, relaxation and yoga, sleep disorders caused by Alzheimer’s disease Parkinson’s and support and care in Parkinson’s advanced, the latter, taught by Dr. Castillo herself.
