Parkinson’s disease has a variable trajectory and patients can be quite disabled months and years before they are hospice eligible.

Here are cues that it may be time to transition to a palliative approach:

• Functional loss
  • Orthostatic hypotension that persists with strategic medication changes
  • Falls or dependency on a wheelchair

• Nutritional loss
  • Weight loss, especially more than 10% in 6 months
  • Evidence of aspiration or dysphagia
  • Cognitive loss

• Development of cognitive impairment or behavioral problems

Caregivers will appreciate your help in adjusting the medical care to what is most helpful in the setting of disability and fewer medical fixes.

For more information, contact Dr. Leslie Estep, Dr. Anita Meyer, or Dr. Erika Pope at Hospice of the Northwest, 360-814-5550, or lestep@hospicenw.org, ameyer@hospicenw.org, or epope2@hospicenw.org.

All Palliative Pearls and other resources can be found by clicking Healthcare Professionals at the top of our website.

If you would like to receive monthly Palliative Pearls via email, please contact Pam at pputney@hospicenw.org.