At CareBuilders our mission has always been to ensure our clients live their best lives possible. For those navigating Parkinson’s disease (PD), this means more than just providing exceptional care at home – it means ensuring their safety and well-being every step of the way, even during a hospital stay.
We are incredibly proud to share that our owner and Executive Director is a Parkinson’s Foundation Ambassador. Driven by a deep personal commitment to our Northern New Jersey families, she is working tirelessly to bridge the gap between care and the specialized needs of the Parkinson’s community.
Why Hospital Safety Matters for Parkinson’s
Hospital stays are stressful for anyone, but for people living with PD, the risks are significantly higher. Statistics show that:
- 4 out of every 12 people with Parkinson’s will be hospitalized this year.
- 3 out of those 4 will not receive their specialized medications on time.
- 2 out of 3 will suffer avoidable complications as a result.
This “Symptom Spiral” often stems from a lack of movement and medication schedules that don’t match the patient’s precise at-home routine.
A New Standard: The Hospital Safety Guide
To combat these risks, our owner is part of a dedicated Parkinson’s Foundation team presenting to local hospitals and Assisted Living communities across our region. They are sharing the Parkinson’s Foundation Hospital Safety Guide, a step-by-step resource designed to help patients and care partners advocate for five critical care needs:
- Exact Medication Matching: Ensuring hospital charts reflect the patient’s precise at-home schedule, not a generic hospital window.
- The 15-Minute Rule: Stressing that PD medications must be administered within 15 minutes of the usual schedule to avoid “wearing off” and motor complications.
- Avoiding Contraindicated Meds: Educating staff to avoid dopamine-blockers, certain sedatives, and specific pain medications that can worsen PD symptoms.
- Prioritizing Movement: Encouraging safe, regular movement – ideally three times a day to maintain strength and focus.
- Swallowing Screenings: Proactively screening for dysphagia to minimize the risk of aspiration pneumonia and weight loss.
Tools for Success
The Guide includes “tear-out” forms like the Medication Form and a Doctor’s Letter signed by a specialist, which provide hospital clinicians with an immediate, clear roadmap for safe PD care.
Our Commitment to You
By partnering with the Parkinson’s Foundation and local healthcare facilities, we are working to ensure that when a member of our community enters a hospital, they are met with understanding and specialized care.
Whether you are a client of CareBuilders or a neighbor in the West Essex area, we want you to have these tools in hand before a crisis occurs. For immediate assistance or to download digital versions of these safety forms, visit Parkinson.org/HospitalSafety or call the Parkinson’s Foundation Helpline at 1-800-4PD-INFO.
To learn about other specific Parkinson’s care resources or local support groups in Northern New Jersey call or text our office at (973) 908-6380.
