We Provide Assistive Devices for People with Parkinson’s
As Parkinson’s disease progresses, everyday movement can become increasingly difficult. Tasks that were once simple, like walking, doing chores, or maintaining balance, may become a challenge due to tremors, stiffness, or freezing of gait. Uneven sidewalks, bad weather, and limited accessibility in the community can make staying active even harder.
At the World Parkinson’s Program, we are committed to helping individuals with Parkinson’s maintain their independence and quality of life. Through our chapters, we provide assistive devices such as walkers, canes, and wheelchairs to support safe mobility and daily activities.
Supportive Care
Assistive Devices Program In Ontario
Unfortunately, there are hundreds if not thousands of people with Parkinson’s living in underprivileged areas of the world that are unable to afford these life saving devices. About 70% of people with Parkinson’s fall each year and 13% fall more than once a week. A single fall can lead to serious injuries, which may further impair their mobility. However, many of these falls can be avoided by using supportive devices such as walkers, canes and wheelchairs.
Our assistive devices program in Ontario can help people with Parkinson’s lead a better and safer life. If you or your loved one is suffering from this illness and are unable to walk, we provide free walkers, wheelchairs, and canes to those who can’t afford them.
Furthermore, we also provide electric toothbrushes to ensure your oral health remains optimum.
Contact us today for free assistive devices in Ontario.
Benefits of Assistive Devices for people with Parkinson’s Disease
The most evident beneficiaries of assistive technology are those with Parkinson’s disease. These systems and gadgets can have countless advantages, some of which are listed below:
Enhanced Independence
People who enroll in our Assistive Devices Program in Canada can carry out everyday duties independently, which increases their sense of independence and self-sufficiency.
Better Mobility
Wheelchairs, scooters, and other mobility aids bring you the freedom of movement, which means individuals with Parkinson’s are no longer prevented from engaging in their desired activities.
Improved Oral Health
Many people with Parkinson’s have great difficulty using manual toothbrushes leading to a decline in oral health. Oral health is a key factor in good overall health and well-being. Thus, we also provide free electric toothbrushes to people with Parkinson’s that are unable to afford it themselves.
Lower Healthcare Costs
People with Parkinson’s need to take better care of themselves. With our assistive devices, less medical supervision is required, which indirectly results in higher healthcare savings. For instance, devices like a home monitoring system helps loved ones keep a check on your condition, which lowers the number of ER visits and hospital stays.
Social Inclusion
Many people with Parkinson’s isolate themselves as they are no longer able to participate in social cohesiveness, but with our assistive technology, people with PD can actively participate in community activities. Mobility aids such as electric wheelchairs or scooters enable people with Parkinson’s to move freely around public areas. These devices enable them to take more part in social events and community activities.
Improved Transfer
A car handlebar can be useful for people with PD who have trouble "transferring," or getting in and out of the car. A metal hook is fastened to a non-slip grip on this compact, transportable, and readily storable gadget. The metal hook is inserted into the U-shaped latch on the inside of the car door to enter or exit. The user can then use this handle's extra support to help with standing or sitting. The gadget is taken off the latch and put away in a handy place, such as the inside pocket of the automobile door, after being in or out of the vehicle.
Better Communication
PD can impair your speech or language abilities. However, our assistive technologies like the hearing aids allow you to communicate more effectively. You may also try using text-to-speech software or voice-generating tools. For example, reading aloud digital content can assist you in understanding information from websites that would otherwise be unreadable. The back-and-forth communication between organizations and people with PD depends heavily on these kinds of qualities.
Assistive Devices We Offer
Canes & Walkers
For those who want a little more assistance with their walking balance, a single-point cane can be a very useful addition. Canes and walkers provide greater comfort, security, and stability when in public. In order to promote bigger steps rather than shuffling, these devices can also serve as a visual target for improving gait.
Wheelchairs
A manual wheelchair can be a useful tool to aid people with Parkinson's while saving electricity. As the name implies, the wheelchair can be pushed by someone else or propelled by the user themselves. With a manual wheelchair, those who suffer from excessive shuffling, dyskinesia, or exhaustion can participate in everyday activities without worrying about their Parkinson's symptoms interfering with their movement.
Electric Toothbrushes
The dental health of many Parkinson's patients deteriorates as a result of their extreme difficulties utilizing manual toothbrushes. A healthy mouth is essential to general health and wellbeing. As a result, we also give away free electric toothbrushes to Parkinson's patients who cannot afford them.
Which Assistive Device Should You Choose?
Various clinical procedures and healthcare settings will recommend different assistive technologies for your use, depending on your condition. However, there are no scientifically informed recommendations for selecting the right assistive equipment for those with Parkinson’s disease. Furthermore, it might be challenging to choose the right equipment for PD patients based on their requirements and level of functional impairment. If you’re unable to afford these devices, let us know. The World Parkinson’s Program provides free walkers, canes, wheelchairs and electric toothbrushes to people with Parkinson’s that require them and are unable to afford them.
Get Involved
Contact Us Today
The World Parkinson’s Program is the only registered Canadian charity that provides free Parkinson’s medication and assistive devices to those in need around the world. We’re here to improve the quality of life of those affected by Parkinson’s disease through education, advocacy, and providing free medication and supportive services.
