Living with Parkinson’s is a daily balancing act—between mobility, safety, medication, and quality of life. In the Naples–Fort Myers region, where many residents are retirees and the senior population is growing, choosing the right home care strategy is even more vital.Because Parkinson’s risk increases with age, areas with more seniors tend to see more cases. Florida, overall, has one of the highest Parkinson’s prevalence rates in the nation. According to a 2024 report by the Health Planning Council of Southwest Florida, about 33% of the population in Collier County is age 65 or older, and this rate is significantly higher than the Florida average.
Because many Parkinson’s patients may require a combination of specialty care, therapy (physical, occupational, speech), and consistent follow-up, choosing the right home care strategy is even more vital.
How Home Care Services Can Address Special Needs
Professional home care can substantially alleviate the burdens faced by Parkinson’s patients and their families in the Naples / Fort Myers region:
On-site mobility support & fall protection. Home care professionals can assist with supervised walking sessions and safe transfers, such as from a chair to the bed. Guided balance and strength exercises can also be administered, as well as coordinated with physical therapists.
Nutrition and swallowing support. A home care agency like BrightStar Care can help design and administer meal plans that include special accommodations for Parkinson’s. Soft-food options, for example, can be prepared to accommodate dysphagia (swallowing issues), common in advanced Parkinson’s. Coordination with dietitians and speech therapists is also a feature of specialized care for loved ones.
Coordination with regional specialists & therapy centers. Seamless referrals and collaboration with other services such as NCH, rehabilitation clinics, and speech, occupational, or physical therapy can be part of the support services offered by a home care agency.
For Parkinson’s patients in Naples / Fort Myers area, home care can help reduce hospitalization and ER visits which is typically a high risk otherwise. It can also help provide a better overall quality of daily life because it provides specialized care in the home, allowing loved ones to maintain their independence and age in place. Lastly, it can give family members respite from the day-to-day care requirements of loved ones with Parkinson's.
If your loved one has Parkinson’s Disease, give us a call at BrightStar Care of Naples/Ft. Myers to find out more about how we can help, and how our care and compassion set us apart.