RESIDENTS living with Parkinson’s disease now have increased access to education, support and ongoing care with an additional Parkinson’s Western Australia nurse to cater for the Mandurah service’s growing demand.
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There are more than 250 people living in the Mandurah and Rockingham area living with the disease and Parkinson’s nurse specialist Heather Johnstone said it was important these people had access to help locally.
“Over the past 10 years, [nurse specialist] Jo Chadwick has really put in the effort and resources to educate places such as nursing homes in Parkinson’s disease,” Ms Johnstone said.
“But because it is a growing number and people move from their workplace and new people start, it is a continual need.
“Plus we find people are really responsive and really want to know the information we give them.”
Ms Johnstone said a lot of her job revolved around educating, both patients and people in medical and care facilities, to ensure people with Parkinson’s received the best possible treatment.
She said because of the nature of Parkinson’s, no two diagnoses or treatments are the same.
“Parkinson’s is a complex condition which needs a range of supports from a specialist service in order to be managed most effectively,” Parkinson’s WA executive officer Brenda Matthews said.
“We are very happy to be able to provide a nurse specialist for Mandurah and Rockingham and aim to continue to expand our nurse specialist service into regional WA to meet the needs of all people living with Parkinson’s.”
Ms Johnstone said one of the best treatments which people living with Parkinson’s is exercise.
She said events such as Parkinson’s WA’s A Walk in the Park, which she’s participating this September, are good because they get people active.
For more information on the walk or the nurse specialist service call 9346 7373 or go to parkinsonwa.org.wa
