Parkinson's Parkinson's Caregiving and Daily Living 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which home modification is most important for reducing fall risk in a person with Parkinson's disease?
- Removing loose rugs and clutter (Correct answer)
- Installing thicker carpeting
- Adding more furniture for support
- Using dimmer lighting for comfort
Correct answer: Removing loose rugs and clutter
Removing loose rugs and clutter reduces tripping hazards, which is critical since Parkinson's patients have impaired postural reflexes and are at high fall risk.
Question 2: Dysphagia (swallowing difficulty) in Parkinson's disease primarily increases the risk of:
- Aspiration pneumonia (Correct answer)
- Esophageal cancer
- GERD
- Gastric ulcers
Correct answer: Aspiration pneumonia
Dysphagia in Parkinson's disease can cause aspiration of food or liquid into the lungs, leading to aspiration pneumonia, which is a leading cause of death in advanced Parkinson's.
Question 3: Which adaptive eating utensil is most helpful for Parkinson's patients with tremor during meals?
- Weighted utensils (Correct answer)
- Standard plastic utensils
- Chopsticks
- Foam-padded regular spoons
Correct answer: Weighted utensils
Weighted utensils provide additional resistance that can dampen tremor, making it easier for Parkinson's patients to eat independently.
Question 4: Orthostatic hypotension in Parkinson's disease is best managed initially with which non-pharmacological strategy?
- Rising slowly from sitting or lying positions (Correct answer)
- Increasing high-intensity exercise
- Drinking cold beverages only
- Sleeping without a pillow
Correct answer: Rising slowly from sitting or lying positions
Rising slowly from supine or sitting positions gives the cardiovascular system time to adjust blood pressure, preventing dizziness and falls from orthostatic hypotension.
Question 5: Which of the following activities is most recommended to address both motor and cognitive symptoms in Parkinson's disease?
- Tango dancing (Correct answer)
- Reading alone
- Passive watching of television
- Light household chores only
Correct answer: Tango dancing
Tango dancing has the most evidence among recreational activities for improving both motor function (balance, gait) and cognitive function in Parkinson's disease.
Question 6: The 'on-off' phenomenon in Parkinson's caregiving refers to caregivers managing periods when the patient:
- Alternates between good medication response and poor medication response (Correct answer)
- Is awake versus asleep
- Has tremor only on one side then the other
- Responds to exercise but not medication
Correct answer: Alternates between good medication response and poor medication response
On-off fluctuations describe unpredictable swings between periods of good motor function ('on') and periods of poor motor control ('off'), challenging caregivers to adapt support moment-to-moment.
Parkinson's Parkinson's Caregiving and Daily Living 1
Which home modification is most important for reducing fall risk in a person with Parkinson's disease?