Understanding Parkinson’s DiseaseCOURSE OVERVIEW: Welcome to the Understanding Parkinsons Disease course. This program has been designed to equip you with clear, accessible, and medically informed knowledge about Parkinsons disease (PD), including what it is, how it develops, how it affects movement and cognition, how it progresses, and how individuals, families, and carers can support safe and meaningful daily living. You will explore the causes and risk factors associated with PD,

COURSE OVERVIEW:

Welcome to the Understanding Parkinson’s Disease course. This program has been designed to equip you with clear, accessible, and medically informed knowledge about Parkinson’s disease (PD), including what it is, how it develops, how it affects movement and cognition, how it progresses, and how individuals, families, and carers can support safe and meaningful daily living. You will explore the causes and risk factors associated with PD, the primary and secondary symptoms, the behavioural and psychological changes that may occur, and the practical considerations that support wellbeing throughout the course of the disease.

This course begins by examining what Parkinson’s disease is, whether it is primarily a condition of older adults, and the causes currently understood through scientific research. You will explore the extent to which Parkinson’s disease is hereditary, whether conditions such as Gulf War Syndrome contribute to PD, and what evidence exists regarding viruses, drugs and strokes as potential causes. This section also examines the two occupations historically associated with higher PD risk and discusses whether someone can die from Parkinson’s disease directly or from complications related to its progression. You will then explore the primary motor symptoms of PD, the secondary symptoms that often accompany the condition, and why PD is categorised as a movement disorder. This section also examines what it means for PD to be progressive and how symptoms evolve over time.

The next learning area focuses on lifestyle considerations for people living with Parkinson’s disease. You will explore whether individuals with PD can drive safely, how social life may be affected, and the impact of PD on sexual wellbeing and interpersonal relationships. This section also examines how PD is staged, how clinicians determine whether the condition is worsening, and the purpose of the modified Hoehn and Yahr staging system in evaluating progression. You will explore why individuals with PD may suddenly become unable to move and what neurological mechanisms underlie “freezing,” as well as why some individuals experience excessive or involuntary movements. This section also examines why falls occur, whether pain is part of PD, why some people act out their dreams, and how sleep-related behaviours are influenced by neurological changes.

A further learning area explores the cognitive and emotional features associated with Parkinson’s disease. You will examine whether depression is part of PD, how cognitive changes develop, and whether people with PD can “lose their mind” as symptoms progress. This section also explores the common dementia-like symptoms associated with Parkinson’s disease, why some individuals see things that aren’t there, and how hallucinations arise from changes in brain chemistry or medication effects. You will also explore the prevalence of constipation in PD and why autonomic nervous system changes contribute to digestive difficulties.

The final learning area focuses on practical support, safety and daily living. You will explore how to make the home environment safer for someone with PD, how to reduce falls and support independence, and how to adjust daily routines to accommodate mobility changes. This section also examines strategies for helping a person with PD prepare food and eat, including adaptations, environmental controls and support strategies that maintain dignity, comfort and autonomy. Throughout, the emphasis is on understanding the lived experience of Parkinson’s disease and applying strategies that promote safety, engagement and quality of life.

By the end of this course you will be able to understand what Parkinson’s disease is, identify its causes and risk factors, recognise primary and secondary symptoms, explain how progression is assessed, understand cognitive and emotional changes, support daily living needs, and apply practical strategies that enhance safety, wellbeing and independence for individuals living with Parkinson’s disease.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

By the end of this course, you will be able to understand:

·       What is Parkinson disease? 

·       Is PD an old people disease?

·       What causes PD?        

·       Is Parkinson’s disease hereditary?

·       Is the Gulf War Syndrome a cause of PD?

·       Do viruses cause PD? 

·       Do drugs cause PD?   

·       Do strokes cause PD?

·       The two occupations that have been associated with PD  

·       Can someone die from PD? 

·       What are the primary symptoms of PD? 

·       What are some of the secondary symptoms of PD? 

·       Why is PD called a movement disorder?

·       PD is progressive. What does this mean?        

·       Will a Person with PD be able to drive?

·       What about the social life of a person with PD?

·       What is the impact of people with PD on their sex life?

·       What stage is a person with PD in?         

·       How do we know if the condition of someone with PD is getting worse?    

·       The modified Hoen and Yahr staging

·       The person with PD can’t move. What’s happening?

·       A person with PD moves too much. What’s happening?    

·       Why do people with PD sometimes fall?

·       Is the pain they are experiencing part of PD?  

·       Why does a person with PD kick and scream in his sleep?

·       Is depression part of PD?     

·       Can people with PD lose their mind?      

·       The common dementia-like symptoms for people with PD

·       Can people with PD see people that aren’t there?

·       Is constipation frequent in PD?      

·       How to make the home safe for a person with PD?  

·       How to help a person with PD to prepare food and eat?

COURSE DURATION:

The typical duration of this course is approximately 2-3 hours to complete. Your enrolment is Valid for 12 Months. Start anytime and study at your own pace.

ASSESSMENT:

A simple 10-question true or false quiz with Unlimited Submission Attempts.

CERTIFICATION:

Upon course completion, you will receive a customised digital “Certificate of Completion”.