Stages of PD: There are several "scales" used toevaluate the degree of
impairment. One which may be useful is the Independence Assessment Scale of
Schwab and England:
100% Completely independent, able to do all chores without slowness,
difficulty,& impairment. Essentially normal, not aware of any
difficulty.
90% Completely independent, able to do all chores with some degree of slowness
, difficulty & impairment. Might take twice as long. Conscious of slowness &
difficulty.
80% Completely independent inmost chores, takes twice as long. Conscious of
difficulty and slowness.
70% Not completely independent, more difficulty with some chores, 3 or 4 times
as long in some, must spend large part of day with chores.
60% Some dependency, can do most chores, but exceedingly slowly, with much
effort. Errors, some chores impossible.
50% More dependent. Help with half: shower, etc. Difficulty with everything.
40% Very dependent. Can assistwith all chores, but do few alone.
30% With effort, now and then, does or begins a few chores alone. Much help
needed.
20% Nothing alone. Cangive slight help with some chores. Severe invalid.
10% Totally dependent, helpless, complete invalid.
0% Vegetative functions such as swallowing, bladder and bowel functions are
not functioning. Bedridden.
Patients between severe mobility fluctuations may vary between 10% & 90%.
For example, a patient in a good, or "on" period may be 75%, yet when bad
or "off" period occurs, they may revert to a 25% level of functioning.
* * * * * *
The above, while helpful in some ways, is also a cold dose of reality.
Sometimes we try to avoid, deny, the realities of the "slippery slope" that
lies in the path of Parkinsonians. Maybe being reminded of the above
informationwill help increase our motivation to pass the Udall bill!
Camilla Flintermann,Cg for Peter,78/7 in July,Oxford,OH
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