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Cost-effective Multi-disciplinary Rehabilitation Care for Patients with Parkinson’s

Issue

Parkinson’s disease is a chronic, neurodegenerative disorder that causes motor impairment due to the loss of dopamine-producing brain cells. Currently, there are 4.6 million people over the age of 50 who suffer from Parkinson’s in the ten most populous nations of the world (including India). Studies show that by 2030, this number is estimated to double to an alarming 9.3 million.

The symptoms of Parkinson’s disease during the preliminary stages include tremors, restless leg syndrome, and pain and sleep disturbances, which in time, grows to affect both sides of the body, making it difficult for patients to complete even simple daily tasks. As the disease progresses, patients also develop cognitive impairments such as memory loss, anxiety, and depression along with an increased risk of dementia.

The incapacitating nature of this disease can be especially taxing for both patients and their families, thus making it imperative to reach out to both patients and their caregivers.

Objective

An increasing number of researchers are discovering that rehabilitation and adjunct therapies along with the prescribed pharmacological therapy can greatly alleviate the debilitating effects of Parkinson’s disease.

To combat the paralysing effect that Parkinson’s disease has on the patient’s social and intellectual capabilities, and to improve their quality of health, by building a cost-effective and replicable model of multi-disciplinary rehabilitation for patients with Parkinson’s.

Impact

Through the multi-disciplinary care model, PDMDS hopes to rehabilitate 400 patients and train 300 caregivers through a network of ten support groups in Mumbai.

In its initial phase, the model will be replicated in five locations across the country (Nasik, Surat, Ahmedabad/Rajkot, Goa and Karnataka), rehabilitating 150 patients and training 100 caregivers outside Mumbai.

About the Organisation

The Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorder Society (PDMDS), a non-profit organisation, was founded in 2001 to help improve the quality of life of both patients with Parkinson’s and their caregivers.

Project

The Narotam Sekhsaria Foundation supports the Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorder Society (PDMDS), which has been working towards building a cost-effective and replicable model of multi-disciplinary rehabilitation for patients with Parkinson’s since 2012.

This project will be rolled out in three phases, which will involve developing the model, conducting studies to gauge its efficacy, as well as identifying and training support groups.