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Parkinson’s Disease

Growing Options has the needed expertise and experience to help people with Parkinson’s disease and their families and caregivers. Living with a chronic, degenerative disease is a challenge for the individual who has the disease and for the caring family. The incidence and severity of Parkinson’s symptoms vary from day to day, and even from one time of day to another. It takes time and ongoing education to learn the many symptoms of Parkinson’s disease as well as the often complicated medication regimens.

Often the individual with Parkinson’s are not as aware of their changing capabilities and risks, such as decreased mobility and increased falls due to the Parkinson’s. The individuals risk level due to mobility issues and cognitive impairment must be considered and monitored. It takes skill and patience when helping someone with Parkinson’s balancing their wish to remain as independent as possible but insuring their safety and reducing risks. It takes skill and patience to know when to simply allow the person more time to do a task independently and when to assist and have the individual accept the assistance.

As the disease progresses there is much to consider and longer term planning is needed. The caregiver burden can be great but there are options. Understanding and preparing is key here. Many questions are raised such as what is the best living environment as the disease progresses, are there adequate funds to provide needed care. With a good plan we can avoid the crisis but this can only happen by anticipating and planning. It does become a family affair and we at Growing Options will assist with support services to improve the quality of life of people with Parkinson’s and their families.

Mental Illness

Growing Options has the needed experience and expertise working with complex mental illnesses such as depression, bi polar, schizophrenia and substance abuse. This population’s circumstances and needs are complex and finding needed services, programs, financial support is not an easy task for multiple reasons. Growing Options assists families in guiding them with education and resources. It takes experience and skill when trying to provide care if there is resistance from the client. We have been successful working with the medical professionals in an attempt to avoid crises and put together strategic care plans. There are times when the crisis does lead to a hospitalization and we are there to facilitate the next best steps with the psychiatric team to assist us. The goal is to get our client the best treatment so they can return to living in the least restrictive setting but with the needed supports. We are also there to support the family emotionally.

Physical Disability

Growing Options have the experience and expertise in assisting those with disabilities such as traumatic brain injuries, cerebral palsy, stroke, multiple sclerosis, chronic pain due to other injuries, etc. While the disabled population has some of the same issues as the aging population, they also have unique needs and circumstances that must be identified and care planned for. We are attentive and sensitive to the special issue of loss of dignity and independence that adds to the hardship and adversity that challenge many disabled individuals. We work hard at understanding the particular problem and need of the client and develop a care plan accordingly. Often we are reaching out for programs for funding and supports to address the particular needs. Often appropriate living arrangements are needed and creative solutions must be developed. Our goal is to listen to the client and understand their definition of quality of life given their circumstances. Then we can outline realistic options and put together an immediate plan to address current needs and then look at the greater picture and put a life care plan in place so they remain in charge and in control of how they want to direct their life with their physical disability. 

Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease

Growing Options has worked extensively with the varying wide scope of diseases related to dementias and other neurological disorders. Once it is determined we are working with someone with Alzheimer’s disease, Young On Set Alzheimer’s Disease, Vascular Dementia ,Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB), Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome(alcohol related),Pick’s Disease, Creutzfeldt-Jacob Dementia (CJP),Mild Cognitive Impairment, Frontotemporal Dementia, Parkinson’s Dementia (PDD),Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH), among others, we can begin to address and plan best next steps. It is important to pursue accurate diagnosis and have a great understanding of the differences to understand best treatment and prognosis.

Apart from the specific cognitive deficit diagnosis dementia presents differently in each individual. Identifying these differences are important to develop appropriate care plan to address unique needs.There are many challenges with caring for those with dementia and a special kind of advocacy is needed. Not all signs and symptoms can be attributed to their dementia. Early detection of signs and symptoms and interventions are needed to minimize impact of issues that can arise. Having a thorough understanding of our clients, identifying differences and knowing how to address those needs are paramount to the highest quality of care. We are here to support the family and provide needed resources to provide the best support systems.