Assistive Devices
Assistive devices are pieces of equipment used by people with various mobility challenges to make their lives easier. Those frequently used by people with Parkinson's include:
Assistive devices are pieces of equipment used by people with various mobility challenges to make their lives easier. Those frequently used by people with Parkinson's include:
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Canes, walkers, scooters, wheelchairs (manual and motorized)
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In-home equipment such as grab bars, bath seats, special beds, lifts and wall railings
This equipment can often be very costly, potentially creating stress and anxiety for those involved. There are, however, some options for locating low-cost, rented or traded equipment.
Before purchase it is very important to consult with a mobility expert to ensure you are purchasing equipment that is right for you.
Call your local Health Unit and ask about an assessment by an Occupational Therapist (OT) or Physical Therapist (PT). The OT or PT will assess your safety and mobility needs and make suggestions regarding equipment for inside and outside the home. They will also provide information on what, if any, government subsidies may be available to assist with purchase or rental of equipment.
Options for obtaining equipment
| - | Equipment and Assistive Devices Hotline | ||||||
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Personal support information line dedicated to directing you to government programs that provide equipment to assist with daily living.
Phone toll free: 1-888-818-1211 | |||||||
| - | Multiple Sclerosis Society | ||||||
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From time to time the MS Society has second-hand equipment available to the public.
In Vancouver, phone: (604) 689 3144 Toll free: 1-800-268-7582 info.bc@mssociety.ca | |||||||
| - | Red Cross | ||||||
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The Red Cross may have certain equipment available.
In Vancouver, phone: (604) 709 6600 Toll free: 1-800-565-8000 | |||||||
| - | Local Health Unit (  for more information on health authorities) | ||||||
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Call Service BC to find the health unit nearest you
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Walking
For some people with Parkinson's, walking becomes challenging.
Strategies for Cueing
Some common movement challenges with Parkinson's include freezing, changing direction, getting stuck in a chair, stooping, fear of falling, walking and talking at the same time, stiffness, and overall decreased walking energy.
Cues are prompts that give information on when and how actions, such as the above, should be carried out. In relation to walking, this information can be about the timing of movement or the size of movements.
Cues can be attention (thinking about your movement), auditory (a beat from a metronome or music or visual (a marker, e.g. on the floor or wall). Cues make movement less dependent on the automatic pilot part of the brain, which is in the area affected by Parkinson's. Cues use a different route through the brain to activate and maintain movement.
Freezing
Freezing is a troubling symptom of Parkinson's that can make walking difficult.
Fall Prevention
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Falls are serious and dangerous for anyone with a mobility disorder such as Parkinson's.
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Falls in the Home
Many falls happen in our own homes. How "fall-proof" is your home? Please take a moment to consider how you might make your home a little safer.
How's Your Driving?
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Driving has become a fundamental part of our society and it is an important part of our daily lives. Driving allows us to feel independent and it is often very difficult to give up a car or license. As experienced drivers grow older, changes in vision, attention and physical abilities may cause them to drive less safely than they used to. Sometimes these changes happen so slowly that the driver is not even aware that their driving safety is at risk.
The following self-assessment tool entitled
"Am I a Safe Driver" can provide a starting point for the discussion of safe driving. |
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Am I a Safe Driver?
| I get lost while driving | |
| My friends and family members say they are worried about me | |
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Other cars seem to appear out of nowhere | |
| I have trouble seeing signs in time to respond to them | |
| Other drivers drive too fast | |
| Other drivers often honk at me | |
| Driving stresses me out | |
| After driving I feel tired | |
| I have had more "near misses" lately | |
| Busy intersections bother me | |
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Left-hand turns make me nervous | |
| The glare from oncoming headlights bothers me | |
| My medication makes me dizzy or drowsy | |
| I have trouble turning the steering wheel | |
| I have trouble pushing down on the gas pedal or brakes | |
| I have trouble looking over my shoulder when I back up | |
| I have been stopped by the police for my driving recently | |
| People will no longer accept rides from me | |
| I do not like to drive at night | |
| I have more trouble parking lately |
If you have checked any of the boxes, your safety may be at risk when you drive. Talk to your doctor about ways to improve your safety when you drive.
Source:
Physician's Guide to Assessing and Counselling Older Drivers, American Medical Association/National Highway Traffic Safety Administration/US Dept. of Transportation, June 2003.
