Parkinson’s home care combines a safe environment, consistent daily support, and targeted therapies so your loved one can stay at home longer. That usually means fall-proofing the home, staying on top of medications, getting help with meals and personal care, and incorporating therapies to support balance, strength, and thinking skills. Over time, families may add more hours of care, more specialized in-home aides, and occasional respite care to keep their loved one safe while protecting their own health and energy.
Is home care the right fit?
Let our free assessment guide you to the best senior living options, tailored to your needs.
Yes. Most people who have Parkinson’s can remain at home for many years when they have a safe environment and appropriate support. According to the Parkinson’s Foundation, more than one million people in the United States live with Parkinson’s disease, and most are cared for informally by family members in the early stages.[01]
Successful Parkinson’s help at home includes:
Professional in-home caregivers can assist with these tasks, allowing families to balance their loved one’s care with their own well-being.
Vicki Demirozu, a home health expert and founder of Giving Care with Grace, a home care training consultancy, recommends that family caregivers keep a daily or weekly journal. “Family caregivers are so exhausted that it’s common for them to forget what’s happened when the doctor asks how things are going,” she explains.
Is home care the right fit?
Let our free assessment guide you to the best senior living options, tailored to your needs.
Parkinson’s home care is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Different types of home care can support your loved one through each stage of Parkinson’s, and understanding these options can help you choose the right level of support.
| Type of care | What it includes | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Companion care | Social interaction, light housekeeping, meal prep, errands | Early-stage Parkinson’s, emotional support, reducing isolation |
| Nonmedical home care | Help with bathing, dressing, toileting, mobility, transfers, fall prevention | Middle to later stages, daily hands-on support |
| Home health care | Skilled nursing, wound care, medication administration, PT/OT/ST visits | When medical needs increase or mobility significantly declines |
| Respite care | Short-term care at home so family caregivers can rest | Any stage when caregivers need breaks |
Parkinson’s disease affects movement, balance, mood, sleep, and in some cases cognition. Home care for people with Parkinson’s focuses on maintaining independence while reducing risks.
Falls are one of the most significant risks for people who have Parkinson’s. Research shows that up to 60 percent of people who have Parkinson’s fall every year, and two-thirds fall repeatedly.[02]
To reduce fall risk, home care providers and family members should:
In-home care for people who have Parkinson’s often includes hands-on mobility assistance, safe transfers, and guidance with exercises prescribed by physical or occupational therapists.
Read more:Senior Home Safety Checklist
Levodopa and other Parkinson’s medications work best when taken on a consistent schedule.[03] Delayed doses can lead to stiffness, tremors, or an inability to move.
A home care provider can help by:
“Staying on schedule with medications is very important,” says Demirozu. “Even a 15-to-30-minute delay can have an impact,” she says.
As Parkinson’s progresses, tremors, slowness, and rigidity can make everyday tasks challenging. Caregivers can help with activities of daily living (ADL), such as:
This support reduces stress on family caregivers while preserving your loved one’s independence as much as possible.
People who have Parkinson’s are at increased risk of depression and anxiety.[04] Companionship, meaningful conversations, and regular social engagement can boost mood and cognitive resilience.
In-home caregivers can also engage your loved one in activities that help maintain their coordination and mental stimulation, such as:
Parkinson’s is a progressive condition, and symptoms develop gradually across several stages.[05] Home care needs will change as the disease progresses.
People with earlier stage Parkinson’s may benefit from occasional help at home, exercise support, and medication reminders.
For family caregivers, respite care is essential. “Parkinson’s is a long-term illness, so it’s crucial that caregivers have time for themselves to go out with friends or simply enjoy activities with their loved one without the responsibility of caregiving,” Demirozu says.
In the middle stage of Parkinson’s, your loved one’s home care will likely shift to include regular daily support, help with getting around the house, and safety monitoring.
During advanced stages, families may rely on full-time home care or consider a skilled nursing facility or nursing home, which can provide more safety measures and medical oversight.
Home care questions? Get expert help
Tell us your care needs to receive personalized guidance from our advisors.
Even excellent home care may not be enough if your loved one:
Signs that a more intensive type of senior care may be needed aren’t limited to the person who has Parkinson’s. If you or another family caregiver is experiencing burnout, or if you can no longer care for your loved one, it may be time to consider assisted living, memory care, or skilled nursing.
Medicare typically won’t cover the cost of nonmedical home care, but it will cover medically necessary home health care and services, such as:
If home care is becoming overwhelming or you want to explore support options earlier in the process, A Place for Mom’s Senior Living Advisors can help you compare in-home care services, respite care, or residential communities that can meet your loved one’s needs. This guidance is provided at no cost to families.
Caregivers use verbal cues, rhythmic counting, laser guides, and safe transfer techniques to help someone move again during freezing episodes and reduce fall risks.
Medicare covers short-term skilled nursing after a qualifying hospital stay, but not long-term custodial care. Families often pay for long-term nursing home care using private funds, veterans benefits, or Medicaid.
Parkinson’s Foundation. Statistics.
Hely, M. A., Reid, W.G., Adena, M.A., et al. (2008, April 30). The Sydney multicenter study of Parkinson’s disease: the inevitability of dementia at 20 years. Movement Disorders.
Grosset, K.A., Reid, J.L., Grosset, D.G. (2005, Aug. 9). Medicine-taking behavior: Implications of suboptimal compliance in Parkinson’s disease. Movement Disorders.
Zhang, T., Yang, R., Pan, J., et al. (2023, June 29). Parkinson’s disease related depression and anxiety: a 22-year bibliometric analysis (2000-2022). Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment.
Braak, H., Ghebremedhin, E., Rub, U., et al. Stages in the development of Parkinson’s disease pathology. (2004, Aug. 24). Cell and Tissue.
The information contained on this page is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute medical, legal or financial advice or create a professional relationship between A Place for Mom and the reader. Always seek the advice of your health care provider, attorney or financial advisor with respect to any particular matter, and do not act or refrain from acting on the basis of anything you have read on this site. Links to third-party websites are only for the convenience of the reader; A Place for Mom does not endorse the contents of the third-party sites.