Shared from parkinson.org.
For most people, being in the hospital is a stressful experience. People are usually sick or experiencing a health issue. For people with Parkinson’s disease (PD), their symptoms may get worse, and new symptoms, like confusion or thinking changes, can develop because of stress, infection, fatigue, sleep disturbances, surgery or new medications.
A new published review of more than 35,000 hospital admissions of people with Parkinson’s found an increased risk of delirium and aspiration pneumonia as potentially avoidable complications.
As we share in our Hospital Safety Guide, preparation and clear communication can help you minimize complications and recovery time when hospitalized. Understanding the risks you or a loved one with Parkinson’s face and ways to have your needs met can help the hospital care team provide the best possible care.