Acknowledgement
We would like to thank Jelka Jansa, Occupational Therapist, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Slovenia, for her contributions to ths section.
We would like to acknowledge the use of information taken from the Parkinson’s Disease Society Singapore publication ‘Parkinson’s News' (Aug-Sept 2007) in compiling this information.
Referral procedures depend on the country that you are living in and treatment may or may not be accessible though the national health system. In some countries, including Slovenia, occupational therapy is prescribed by the medical doctors; in the case of Parkinson’s it will be either neurologist or physician. In other countries, such as Sweden, people with Parkinson’s could contact an occupational therapist on their own or carers' initiative, but may also require a medical doctor’s or other professional’s referral for occupational therapy.
If occupational therapy is not state-funded then you can also see a therapist on a private basis – this means you have to pay for any treatment and assessment you receive.
Whatever route you take, you need to ensure that you see an occupational therapist who specialises in neurology or care of the elderly and has some experience of treating people with Parkinson’s.
The Parkinson’s association in your country may also be able to provide information based on members’ experiences. The EPDA website [www.epda.eu.com] contains the contact details for European Parkinson's disease organisations and international Parkinson’s organisations.
Your Parkinson’s association may also advise and provide information and educational opportunities for health professionals.
Terms used to describe people who look after or provide support, voluntarily and without payment, to relatives, partners or friends who are ill, aged or disabled.
See section on Carers.
Physicians specializing in the field of neurology (a branch of medicine dealing with disorders of the nervous system ) are called neurologists and are trained to diagnose, treat, and manage patients with neurological disorders. Most neurologists are trained to treat and diagnose adults with neurological disorders.
Pediatric neurologists, nearly always a subspecialty of pediatrics, treat neurological disease in children.
Neurologists may also be involved in clinical research, clinical trials, as well as basic research and translational research.
