Objective:

Aims: promoting maximum autonomy, potentiating resources, improve functionality, stimulating activity, preventing complications.

Background: Since 2006, the Program has operated uninterruptedly, even during COVID-19. Aimed to PD patients, relatives and caregivers, based on group approaches in different areas: education for patients, relatives, psychological approach, speech therapy, physical rehabilitation, occupational therapy, genetic counseling, as well as neurological evaluation. The goal is to increase the resources available to improve the quality of life.

Method: The activities of a non-pharmacological Program in Parkinson’s Disease (PD), interdisciplinary group, integrated and at no cost for participants are described.

Phonoaudiologic Rehabilitation: It seeks to optimize communication, improving voice intensity and speech intelligibility, through techniques that improve awareness of motility control and procedures of logophoniatric rehabilitation. Efforts are made to avoid malnutrition and aspirative pneumophaties.

Physical Rehabilitation: Physical exercising is as intense as possible and devised for each person. It aims to improve coordination and balance, breathing and voice, to prevent falls and to improve physical capacity. Since 2011 hydrotherapy in pool is also offered.

Mental Health: Group psychotherapy contributes to transforming the subjective experience of being ill, sharing resources to face it and live with it, managing anxiety, depression, and strengthening the ability to bond. Individual focalized psychological consultations are carried out for patients and family members.

Occupational Therapy: By means of workshops and home visits, functional independence is stimulated. Assessment is provided as concerns architectonic barriers in the home. Tools for everyday life are provided.

Results: To date 1.082 persons have participated in our Program. 542 patients, 285 men and 257 women, with a mean age of 66.4 years. The Program has also worked with 540 relatives (399 women, 141 men), mean age 52 years (176 children, 183 couples, 181 others).

Dissemination: 173 educative lectures have been provided (virtually during COVID-19 and later in hybrid format). Sixteen books have been published. They provide patients, neurologists and other healthcare professionals with tools and orientations.

Conclusion: The objective of improving the quality of life is met.

The Program improved the quality of life of patients, relatives and caregivers.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/parkinson-disease-an-innovative-aproach/