Helping a Loved One with Parkinson’s Deal with Fatigue

Fatigue is a very common symptom of Parkinson’s, with up to half of patients saying they experience strong feelings of exhaustion. It can be made worse when they try to do too much or too little, so they’re often encouraged to pace themselves in a way to manage it.

As their energy levels often fluctuate so much, you might notice your loved one trying to cram everything they need to do into a short amount of time before they ‘crash’. However, this often makes fatigue worse and can lead to them feeling down, sluggish and frustrated.

Today, we’ll explore how to help your loved one with fatigue, a symptom of Parkinson’s. This includes practical tips for using at home and how to care for them properly while validating their feelings.

Educating yourself: What is Parkinson’s?

Parkinson’s is a progressive neurological condition that stops the brain from producing enough dopamine. Symptoms begin to appear when the brain can’t make enough dopamine to control movement properly, and they usually get worse over time.

Every person living with Parkinson’s has a slightly different experience with it, so knowing all the possibilities of the disease will help you prepare for however your loved one is affected.

There are more than 40 symptoms of Parkinson’s, but here are the most common you may find your loved one experiencing:

• Tremors
• Stiffness
• Fatigue
• Slow movements
• Mild memory and thinking issues
• Sleep difficulties
• Pain
• Mental health problems, including depression and anxiety

Parkinson’s symptoms are usually divided into two categories: motor and non-motor. Motor symptoms affect a person’s movement and balance, while non-motor symptoms affect them in ways that might not be so easy to see from the outside.

Most of the common Parkinson’s symptoms contribute to fatigue. For example, stiffness and slow movements require more energy, possibly making your loved one feel tired more quickly after a short walk or light chores. Similarly, pain and trouble sleeping may also contribute to fatigue.

Reaching out to your loved one

Sometimes, it’s difficult for your loved one to let their friends and family know that they’re struggling. They have to push their pride aside and ask for help, which is really tough if they’ve always been the one people confide in. Instead, you could reach out and offer a helping hand.

Think of something you know your loved one would appreciate, like going to the cinema or cooking their favourite home-cooked meal together. Find ways to help on a regular basis, such as tougher chores like mowing the lawn or food shopping. Checking in and chatting lets your loved one know they’re not alone and they can ask for help when they need it without the fear of being rejected.

Taking care of the medical side of things

When your loved one’s energy levels crash and they’re feeling incredibly fatigued, it can be difficult to do anything else but sleep. This may get in the way of important medical requirements, such as taking medication at the right times, getting to routine appointments and physical therapy exercises. Help by creating a medication tracker and making sure your loved one remembers to take them even when they’re fatigued.

Offer to take your loved one to their appointments if they often sleep through them, or encourage them to join a group exercise class. The social aspect of these gives them an incentive to participate, even when they’re feeling tired. If you live further away, keep track by calling your loved one after medication times and appointments to see how they went.

Communicating with your loved one

Communicating through difficult times is often the best medicine. Listening to and validating their feelings can help ease stress in your relationship and give you insights into where they need the most support.

Validating feelings is incredibly important when helping a loved one with Parkinson’s. Here are some examples of how to validate feelings while listening to what’s upsetting them:

• If they tell you they’re tired: Instead of saying “You just woke up!”, try “I know this kind of fatigue is different. There’s no shame in resting between tasks.”
• When they push themselves too much: Instead of saying “I told you not to overdo it!”, try “I can see why you’d feel tired after all you’re going through.”
• When they cancel plans: Instead of saying “You seemed fine earlier!”, try “It’s normal for your energy levels to change throughout the day. It’s good you’re honouring what your body needs.”

It’s a good idea to have a chat with the rest of your family about how to validate your loved ones’ feelings. Instead of dismissing their feelings, acknowledge that the experience is real and understandable. Also, try to avoid giving unsolicited advice, as this often causes more harm than good.

Looking for potential fatigue triggers

While fatigue is a common symptom of Parkinson’s, it’s also exacerbated by certain triggers. If your loved one is really struggling with their fatigue, it’s worth checking if any of these triggers could be making the problem worse:

• The timing and dosage of medication may increase fatigue soon after taking it
• Tremors, stiffness and involuntary movements put stress on the muscles and force them to work harder
• Slowness of movement makes completing tasks more difficult, leading to fatigue
• Parkinson’s often causes stress, which builds up over time and makes your loved one feel more tired than usual

Although many people with Parkinson’s report feeling fatigued more than they used to before the onset of their symptoms, it’s important to remember that it might be due to something else entirely. This could include thyroid problems, anaemia, diabetes and vitamin deficiencies.

Because of this, it’s recommended to encourage your loved one to talk to their GP or Parkinson’s nurse about feelings of extreme fatigue. They’ll be able to determine if there’s a treatable underlying cause rather than simply putting it down to their Parkinson’s.

Practical tips for helping your loved one in their everyday life

Imagine realising that the routine you used to be able to stick to without any trouble is slowly becoming too much to handle. You might not be able to walk your dog without taking a break on a park bench, cook a meal without sitting down halfway through or clean your home without it taking all day.

There are plenty of ways to help your loved one deal with their fatigue day to day, including:

Around the house

If you live close enough to visit your loved one, it may be helpful to divide the household tasks so they can manage them more easily. There are also several gadgets and home adaptations to look into that can make their life with Parkinson’s easier. These could include:

• Pen grips to make writing more comfortable
• Reach-and-grab devices to pick things up without bending down
• Walking aids, such as a cane, walker or wheelchair
• Lowered countertops
• Handrails and grab bars

If you’re not sure how to make your loved one’s home more accessible, consider consulting an occupational therapist for advice.

Their diet

Eating a healthy and balanced diet is super important for fatigue and Parkinson’s. Some people find that eating small snacks every few hours prevents their blood sugar from dropping, giving them a steady stream of energy to prevent fatigue from creeping in.

Keep a range of healthy snacks in the kitchen for your loved one to grab whenever they’re feeling hungry. This will avoid them eating lots for lunch and dinner, which may increase the chances of post-meal fatigue.

Their routine

Encourage your loved one to ask for help in their daily routine wherever they need it. It can be distressing to have to change your entire life around for a Parkinson’s diagnosis, so encouraging them to keep their routine as normal as possible does wonders for their mental health.

You might find your loved one pushing themselves to keep their routine as normal as possible. However, doing it all on their own increases the risk of fatigue, and if their energy levels crash, it may throw the rest of the day out of sync. Encourage them to ask for help when they feel tired to avoid pushing past the point of no return.

Physical activity and mental exercise

Keeping active is great for people with Parkinson’s, especially if they get fatigued throughout the day. Feeling tired after simple tasks often triggers a cycle in which your loved one becomes less and less active. This might make them feel better in the short term, but it’ll lead to their muscles weakening and feeling tired much quicker.

The same can be said for mental exercise, as the less your loved one focuses on remaining involved and alert, the more fatigued they’ll feel.

To help them exercise their body and brain, consider the following activities:

• Aerobic exercise
• Tai Chi or yoga
• Walking their dogs
• Chair-based stretches for flexibility
• Hobbies to stave off boredom

Understanding the difference between helping and taking over

It’s not uncommon for people in the same family to clash when one suddenly needs more help than they used to. If you find a power imbalance developing between you and your loved one with Parkinson’s, stand back and look for the root cause.

Are they embarrassed that they can’t do as much as they used to? Do they like things done a certain way? Are you giving them the chance to do things themselves?

It’s easy to fall into the trap of taking over tasks that your loved one needs if you think you can do it quicker. However, there’s no need to do this if they can do it for themselves! Instead, encourage them to continue their daily tasks and activities as much as possible to stop them from feeling useless or helpless.

The difference between helping and taking over could look like:

• Cooking meals: Help by chopping ingredients or meal-prepping things they’ve requested for them to reheat whenever they’re hungry. Insisting on managing their meal plan without including them is considered taking over.
• Medical appointments: Help by offering to drive them to their appointments if they’re tired or creating a simple medication tracker for them to use. Calling doctors, making medical decisions or changing medications without their consent is considered taking over.
• Shopping: Help by asking for a shopping list and sticking to it, or offer to pick up their prescriptions when you’re nearby. Buying what you think they need instead of what they want is considered taking over.
• Cleaning and housekeeping: Help by offering to come by once a week to do chores they’re not feeling up to, such as vacuuming and laundry. Rearranging their home or throwing things away is considered taking over.

Taking over from your loved one may leave them feeling upset, demotivated and resentful. Try to find common ground, and if you notice them getting frustrated while you’re trying to help, sit down and have an open conversation about how to make this arrangement work for both of you.

How Country Cousins can help

At Country Cousins, we understand that fatigue is just one of the challenges of living with Parkinson’s. Our experienced live-in carers can offer tailored support for your loved one, helping them manage their routine, maintain independence and make the most of life at home without letting their fatigue consume them.

Families of people with Parkinson’s often find the adjustment to providing care difficult to navigate, so utilising a carer gives you a much-needed break. From delivering practical help with movement to assisting with medications and physiotherapy, our carers are trained to offer the best emotional reassurance and encouragement.

H2 Talk to our team today

As the UK’s longest-serving introductory live-in care agency, we have been providing compassionate live-in care to those who need it since 1959 – all from the comfort of their own homes.

Give us a call today on 01293 224 706. Our experienced team is on hand to help from Monday to Friday, 8 am to 6 pm. Alternatively, contact us through our online enquiry form.