End of life: managing final stage Parkinson's

The final stages of Parkinson’s are complex. Although the disease itself is not a terminal condition, a general decline in health and a vulnerability to other illnesses can result in complete care 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Care priorities shift as those with advanced Parkinson’s eventually reach the stage where they no longer respond well to medication and are at risk of dying. For everyone involved, this can be an extremely stressful, painful and worrying time.

For most of us, the thought of our own death or of someone we love is too awful to contemplate. However, it is important to consider and these information sheets aim to provide some help and relief by answering questions surrounding palliative care and the last stages of Parkinson’s, whilst helping navigate the final progression of the disease.

Final stages of Parkinson’s information sheets:

Acknowledgement

We would like to thank the following for their contributions to this information:

Dr Oona Lucie, SpR with a special interest in Parkinson's, Scotland, UK