WORKING WITH PARKINSON'S DISEASE PATIENTS

Within the European Parkinson Disease Association (EPDA) there is an interest to establish an Occupational Therapy (OT) network for OTs who are treating people with Parkinson’s in their daily practice, to develop and ensure a consistent approach and quality of OT intervention throughout European centres for Extrapyramidal disorders.

The aim of this Network would be to develop closer communication and enhance co-operation with Extra pyramidal centres throughout Europe, to exchange information and expertise in the management of Parkinson’s disease (PD).

The role of OT in PD is to improve and/or sustain personal independence in everyday functioning. Accordingly, OT intervention minimises disability (patients are able to engage in meaningful everyday activities despite motor, cognitive and other impairments) and consequently improve their participation in life.

There are great differences in the level of OT practice within the EPDA member countries. This means that therapists, who are assisting in the management of PD, are using different assessment tools, treatment procedures, and technical appliances.

A target group of OT's with a special interest in PD could provide a basis for future collaboration by means of sharing clinical experiences, conducting research, and developing OT standards for the management of PD. It will enable OTs to develop a more specific process for PD management and will promote the OT profession to European countries who have little awareness of the benefits of OT in the management of PD.