Health & social care professions
Treatment of Parkinson’s does not just rely on medical treatments, such as medications and surgery. Many other health and social care disciplines (sometimes grouped together under the umbrella term ‘allied health professionals’) will play a vital role in management – including physiotherapy, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, podiatry and dietetics.
Parkinson’s is a complicated, individual condition that most people live with for many years. For this reason, a multidisciplinary approach to management, involving several of these professions working together, is important to ensure that you retain your independence and continue to enjoy the best quality of life possible. Most health and social care disciplines also recommend early referral to their services for assessment and advice.
This section provides a guide to some of the professions that are involved in the management of Parkinson’s. Knowledge of the roles that these different services can play in your care will help you to identify those who will be most able to help you with any specific problems that you are experiencing and also assist you to make informed choices about your treatment.
Anyone working in allied health professions within European state health systems, such as the UK’s National Health Service (NHS), will be properly trained and registered with their country’s regulatory body for their profession.
In most countries, you can also see them privately, although if you choose this option, it is important to make sure they are properly qualified. Your national Parkinson’s association should be able to advise further on accessing health and social care professionals where you live.
Complementary therapies & Parkinson’s
Many people with Parkinson’s are also interested in complementary therapies – non-conventional treatments, often based on ancient systems, such as acupuncture, aromatherapy and herbal medicine.
Although there is limited scientific evidence about complementary therapies and Parkinson’s, anecdotal evidence suggests that many people with the condition find complementary therapy techniques helpful, especially for relaxation and to reduce stress and depression. This section provides a guide to complementary therapies in general as well as specific techniques that people with Parkinson’s have tried.
Remember to consult your doctor before trying any form of complementary therapy. Depending on how Parkinson’s affects you, some techniques may not be suitable and some herbal medicines are contraindicated with medications used to treat Parkinson’s.
