“Living with Parkinson’s disease” – a care management offer for those affected and their relatives
With the new Home Care Coordination Office, which was created in 2023, we support patients in organising and coordinating their treatment as well as in procuring products and medical aids. This not only makes life easier for those affected, but also relieves the burden on their relatives. The pilot project “Leben mit Parkinson” (Living with Parkinson’s), an initiative of the Home Care Coordination Service, shows that the offer has met with great interest and is appreciated.
With the University Hospital in Bern (Inselspital Bern) and the Swiss Parkinson’s Network Mittelland (Schweizer Netzwerk Parkinson Mittelland), we were able to gain important partners to establish this home care service. In the first few months alone, we already advised more than 20 people with Parkinson’s disease in the Bern and Solothurn region.
On-site assessment provides the necessary insight
As a first step, the Care Manager visits those affected and their relatives at home. This is crucial: this is the only way for them to gain an insight into the overall situation (space, falling and tripping hazards, medication, coping with everyday activities such as personal hygiene, eating and drinking, social contacts, etc.). The results of this assessment are then documented in a short and easy-to-understand report which – with the consent of the persons concerned – provides all the professionals involved, such as doctors or therapists with valuable information.
If medical aids are required or there are open questions, such as about social insurance, the Parkinson’s Care Manager will, depending on the situation, bring the Home Care Coordination Service into the loop, which then takes care of researching and ordering – including the entire range of services from the entire Galenica network – or navigates through the administrative jungle of healthcare.
Small everyday aids – a huge relief
Initial experiences and valuable feedback from those affected show that even small adjustments in the home, such as installing additional railings, eliminating tripping hazards or optimising medication management, can make life easier for those affected and offer valuable added value for them and their relatives.
Our offers are intended to have a lasting effect: for this reason, following the assessment, the Care Manager usually conducts follow-up calls with the affected persons and their relatives at appropriate intervals. This allows measures to be adapted or expanded if necessary.
We want to be a long-term point of contact for those affected and their relatives, providing them with all the options available from the Galenica network as required.