Frequently Asked Questions
What is PuSH for pd?
PuSH for pd stands for Puget Sound Parkinson’s Disease Housing & Care
Alliance, a 501 c3 tax-exempt nonprofit organization registered
as a
corporation in the State of Washington. Our mission is to create a supportive
living residence specifically for people with Parkinson’s Disease.
Why does Washington State need a supportive living residence for people
with Parkinson’s Disease?
Washington State has an estimated 30,000 people with PD and no two of them
have the same symptoms. A needs assessment survey sent to 750 individuals
identified either as patients with PD or caregivers of patients with PD
in 2003
indicated a significant need for specialized housing and care services
for this
patient base. Established residential long-term care models focus on
generalized care of physical symptoms and ignore the emotional and
psychological impact of Parkinson’s Disease.
What is Parkinson’s Disease?
Parkinson’s Disease is a chronic, progressive movement disorder resulting
from a depletion of dopamine in the brain. To date there is no cure for
this
disease and no consensus as to what causes it. Managing the disease is
complex as symptoms fluctuate and are unpredictable.
Medications can cause psychological, emotional, and cognitive symptoms.
Stages of Parkinson’s Disease
The Hoehn and Yahr scale is commonly used to describe the broad
stages of the disease as follows:
• Stage Zero: No signs of disease.
• Stage One: PD symptoms on one side of the body only.
• Stage Two: PD symptoms on both sides of the body. No
impairment of balance.
• Stage Three: Balance impairment. Mild to moderate disease. Physically
independent.
• Stage Four: Severe disability, still able to walk or stand
unassisted.