By 2030, an estimated 1.3 million people in the U.S. will be diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Ninety-six percent of people diagnosed with Parkinson’s are age 50 and older.
The ZoeLife Parkinson’s Immersion Program (PIP) is a holistic rehabilitation and prevention program offered at the Glencroft Center for Modern Aging. The program is designed to improve the safety and quality of life for aging adults diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
What is Parkinson’s disease?
Parkinson’s is a neurodegenerative disorder, the second most common behind Alzheimer’s disease. It is caused by genetic and environmental factors. The disease is not fatal, but it may cause serious side effects. There is no cure for Parkinson’s. Treatment aims to slow disease progression and improve quality of life.
There are five stages of Parkinson’s, each progressively more debilitating. Parkinson’s affects an individual’s gait and balance, along with a range of motor and non-motor symptoms.
Motor (movement) symptoms include slowness of movement(bradykinesia), difficulty walking or moving, and other symptoms such as dizziness/fainting, drooling, stiffness, stooped posture, reduced facial expressions (facial masking), imbalance, tremors, cramped toes/feet (dystonia), and involuntary movements (dyskinesia).
Non-motor symptoms include challenges such as impaired smell, cognitive challenges, sleep disorder, constipation, sweating, bladder symptoms, fatigue, sexual dysfunction, pain, tingling, lightheadedness, anxiety, isolation, and depression.
Parkinson’s patients have varying levels of ability. This is why having a customized program such as PIP is essential to patient wellbeing and quality of life.
How does PIP work?
The ZoeLife Parkinson’s Immersion Program (PIP) is a holistic rehabilitation and prevention
program designed to improve the safety and quality of life for individuals diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
A ZoeLife team of therapists, dieticians, counselors, exercise physiologists, and program administrators work together with patients’ doctors to develop tailored programs to meet individual goals and potential.
Activity schedules are developed around medication schedules to create the best experience and outcomes for PIP participants, who are immersed in small groups. Together, they participate in a comprehensive program of activities designed to improve motor and non-motor challenges, reduce the risk of falls, and slow disease progression. Activities include PIP Golf, virtual reality boxing, swimming, art, yoga, dance, and nutrition counseling, among other engaging activities.
At Glencroft, PIP participants experience improved balance, strength, speech, flexibility, and motor skills. They are able to minimize rigidity, stiffness, and pain, and they experience less depression than they did before participating in tailored PIP activities.
The ZoeLife Parkinson’s Immersion Program is available at no cost to all residents diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease at the Glencroft Center for Modern Aging.
About Glencroft
The Glencroft Center for Modern Aging is the largest continuing care retirement community in Arizona, providing independent, assisted, long-term living and memory care services. Located on a lush 40-acre desert in sunny Glendale, Glencroft is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization supported through the Glencroft Friendship Foundation and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Thanks to the generosity of individual donors, corporate sponsors, and grant-giving organizations, ZoeLife’s optional customized wellness programs and amenities are provided at no additional cost for Glencroft residents.
Schedule a Tour
Visit glencroft.com to schedule an in-person tour of our comfortable, home-like residences, or take a virtual tour now. You may also schedule a tour by calling (623) 939-9475.
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