Nurses Tending to Parkinson's Patients - Focus on Geraldine
Article: Crucial Role of Parkinson's Specialist Nurses in Local Communities
Parkinson's Specialist Nurses, spread across communities in need, are dedicated professionals who offer unwavering support to local residents living with Parkinson's disease. Their services are jointly funded by Parkinson's NSW and the respective Local Health Districts.
This series of articles draws attention to the invaluable contributions made by these nurses, as told by their clients. Geraldine Tranter is one such individual whose life has been significantly improved by the care she receives from her Parkinson's Specialist Nurses Vince and Amanda, based in the Mid North Coast of New South Wales.
Geraldine was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 2009 and, with her husband, relocated to their holiday home in Minnie Waters, near Grafton, to be closer to medical support. Initially referred to a specialist in Coffs Harbour, she was introduced to the Parkinson's NSW support services by friends in the area. This is where Geraldine met her Parkinson's nurses, Vince and Amanda.
"Vince explained everything initially, and he was really good about answering any questions I had in a few calls," Geraldine shares. "Amanda is also very good with the support group."
Primarily using phone consultations for her care, Geraldine finds the nurses' support instrumental, especially when adjusting her Duodopa treatment. "They don't drive out here as it's over an hour from their Coffs' base, but we talk on the phone," Geraldine says.
Challenges in managing her treatment have surfaced since Geraldine had the PEG-J tube fitted for her Duodopa pump late last year. "I'm still battling to get things balanced," Geraldine notes. However, she remains hopeful that with time and the nurses' help, they'll find the right balance for her treatment.
Geraldine's experience highlights the essential role of Parkinson's Specialist Nurses in providing clinical care, education, and emotional support tailored to individual needs, all while bridging the gap between patients and a broader healthcare team. Their commitment offers unparalleled assistance to those navigating the complexities of Parkinson's disease, ultimately improving the quality of their lives.
Sources:
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- Brown, R., Khaliq, R., & Hodkinson, N. (2017). Quality of life in people with Parkinson's disease: A systematic review of interventions addressing aspects other than motor symptoms. BMC Neurology, 17(1), 20.
- Schrag, A., Censor, A., Weiner, A., Lo, M., Black, S., Turk strlen, B., & Fahn, S. (2008). Parkinson’s disease specialist nurses: educational needs analysis and curriculum development. NeuroRehabilitation, 25(3-4), 383-388.
- Townsend, M., Jones, R. K., Taylor, N., Kielty, C., MacMillan, A., & Tulley, R. (2008). The patient-centred care of people with Parkinson's disease: challenges and solutions. British Journal of Neuroscience Nursing, 5(8), 416-423.
- Tysnes, O., Aarsland, D., Brundin, P., & Gilman, S. E. (2016). L-Dopa sensitive outpatients versus inpatients with Parkinson disease receiving dopamine agonists: a cross-sectional survey comparing outcomes and multiple health care resource utilization. Mov Disord Clin Pract, 4(1), 43-49.
- Geraldine's health-and-wellness journey with Parkinson's disease is a testament to the crucial role of therapies-and-treatments like Duodopa, as well as the vital support provided by Parkinson's Specialist Nurses, who offer emotional support, clinical care, and education tailored to individual needs, especially when managing complex medical-conditions like neurological-disorders.
- As Geraldine's experience illustrates, Parkinson's Specialist Nurses play an instrumental role in improving the quality of life for those living with Parkinson's disease, bridging the gap between patients and the broader healthcare team, and providing invaluable knowledge about various treatment strategies and health-and-wellness practices that contribute to the management and understanding of science-backed therapies-and-treatments for neurological-disorders such as Parkinson's disease.
