Parkinson’s disease is a progressive and degenerative disease of the brain which affects the control a person has over the way they move. The disease affects the nerve cells within a certain section of the brain, resulting in the lack of a chemical messenger called dopamine. Dopamine is required for the body to move in a smooth, controlled manner.
Symptoms and characteristics
People with Parkinson’s disease experience a unique set and progression of symptoms. The symptoms experienced predominantly include:
- abnormal movement patterns which might include:
- slowness
- inability to move when wanting to
- shuffling
- little or no arm swing when walking
- involuntary stopping or freezing when walking
- a stooped posture
- changes in voice control
- changes in speech clarity and fluency
- difficulty chewing and swallowing fatigue
- poor balance or instability in advanced stages of the disease
- rigidity or muscle stiffness
- tremors which are either resting tremors or action tremors, seen when a person is attempting to move.
Other conditions that can also be associated with Parkinson’s disease include:
- altered memory or impaired thinking
- anxiety or depression
- changes in bowel or bladder functioning
- sleep disorders.
Workplace adjustments and solutions
In the workplace there are various factors that would assist people with Parkinson’s disease to better manage their condition. These include changes to work tasks and the environment, and will vary depending upon the stage of the disease. Some suggestions for workplace modifications include:
- installation of railings to assist with mobility and balance around walkways, toilets and workstations
- modifying workstation set up to accommodate strengths and abilities and overcome barriers
- provision and adjustment of suitable ergonomic seating for specific needs to allow maximum support for posture
- modification of tasks or way tasks are undertaken to reduce small fine hand movements required
- flexible work hours or the capacity to work from home to accommodate fluctuating symptoms and fatigue
- provision of lifting aids such as trolleys to reduce lifting requirements.
The Employment Assistance Fund provides financial assistance for work related modifications, equipment and services to help people with disability gain employment and perform their work as independently and productively as possible. To determine eligibility, please refer to the full guidelines:
There are solutions and adjustments for the following job requirements:
References
Better Health Channel 2010, Parkinson's disease, Victorian Government Department of Health, Melbourne, viewed 11 December 2011, http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Parkinson's_disease_explained?open.
Parkinson’s Australia 2008, What is Parkinson’s, Parkinson’s Australia, Canberra, viewed 11 December 2011, http://www.parkinsons.org.au/about-ps/whatps.html.
Parkinson’s Australia 2008, Living with Parkinson’s, Parkinson’s Australia, Canberra, viewed 11 December 2011, http://www.parkinsons.org.au/about-ps/lwps.html.