Your mother keeps falling backward, and her first diagnosis did not explain why the usual Parkinson’s medicine was not helping much.
Progressive supranuclear palsy and multiple system atrophy are less common conditions that can initially resemble Parkinson’s but may bring earlier changes in balance, eye movement, blood pressure, speech, swallowing, or sleep.
What daily life can look like
- Falls and changes in walking can arrive early.
- Speaking, looking down, standing, and swallowing may become harder.
- The person may be fully aware of changes and need time to express preferences.
What can change at home
- The household may need more help with transfers and close supervision.
- A written plan for dizziness, swallowing concerns, and sudden change becomes important.
How in-home care can help
Home care does not treat the condition. It can make the practical parts of a day more manageable while the person’s medical team remains responsible for diagnosis, treatment, and clinical direction.
- Standby help with walking, personal care, meals, and transfers.
- Placing everyday items where they are easier to see and reach.
- Noting changes for the family and clinical team.
Is home still the right place?
Families ask this more than any other question. Home may still be a workable choice when help is available at the times it is needed, the person can be supported safely, and the family has enough rest and backup. It is time to reassess when falls, swallowing concerns, supervision needs, equipment needs, or caregiver strain exceed what the household can reasonably manage.
- Reassess after falls despite help, repeated choking, or breathing and sleep concerns that the household cannot manage.
- Call 911 for an emergency.
Other settings and support to consider
More scheduled help at home is one option. Depending on the person’s needs, a family may also consider rehabilitation after a hospital stay, an adult day program, respite, assisted living, memory care, or skilled nursing. The treating team can help explain which setting fits the current care needs.
How OPA works with your family
Start with what changed: the routine, the difficult hours, the support already in place, and the people involved. OPA can talk through practical help with personal care, meals, mobility, errands, companionship, transportation, and consistent coverage around the moments that are hardest to manage.
A care plan should follow the person’s routines and preferences. As appointments, family availability, or daily needs change, the plan can change too.
Questions to bring to the doctor
- What should we plan for this year?
- Which symptoms need urgent help?
- When should we involve more support?
Write the answers down and keep them with the current contact list. If a symptom is sudden, severe, or feels like an emergency, call 911.
Talk through the next practical step
To talk about day-to-day support at home, talk with our team or call 404-689-4440.
This article is general information and not medical advice. Talk with the doctor about your family member’s situation.
Clinical guidance for the home plan
The NINDS's PSP overview describes a progressive disorder affecting movement and balance. Use this guidance to prepare questions for the treating team; the person's own clinical instructions determine the care plan.
The MedlinePlus's MSA overview describes changes in movement, balance, and autonomic function. Use this guidance to prepare questions for the treating team; the person's own clinical instructions determine the care plan.
Turn the instructions into a shared home plan
Use the Care Coordination Grid from OPA's Knowledge Center to name who handles appointments, daily routines, and the next handoff. Keep the treating team's instructions and contact details alongside the schedule. Talk with OPA about personal care at home when the household needs another layer of help, and confirm the specific tasks and schedule before care starts.
