Shared from myparkinsonsteam.com.
Managing the late stages of Parkinson’s disease is challenging for people living with the condition and their caregivers. Parkinson’s is a progressive disease, meaning it worsens over time.
Knowing what to expect from end-stage disease can help people with Parkinson’s and the people who care for them prepare for the challenges ahead and navigate the end stages with more understanding and comfort.
What Is End-Stage Parkinson’s Disease?
Parkinson’s disease has five stages, which are based on symptoms and disability. The later stages of Parkinson’s, stage 4 and stage 5, are considered severe. At stage 4, a person may not be able to eat or get dressed by themselves. At stage 5, they may be unable to get out of bed or need a wheelchair.
Severe symptoms of advanced Parkinson’s, such as stiffness in the legs, can make standing or walking impossible and increase a person’s risk of getting hurt from falling. End-stage Parkinson’s usually means needing care at all times.