When I said “Walking sticks are cooler than using a cane or walker,” I received a confirming reaction from the crowd through smiles and nodding of heads. I was honored to be able to share lots of fun devices, gadgets, and assistive technology tools to a recent Parkinson’s Symposium in Minot. Most people don’t know that they can come to the Bismarck Demonstration center to try out three styles of walking sticks to improve balance. ND Assistive received these walking sticks from Bismarck Parkinson’s Support Group’s grant. Anyone with Parkinson’s who lives in North Dakota can apply for a set of walking sticks. If you have questions regarding applying for funding, please feel free to reach out by email to Andrea Engle at andrea.engle@benedictineliving.org or by calling 701-751-5223.
Parkinson’s Disease is one of the many reasons why families call ND Assistive. The Bismarck Demonstration Center team also exhibited devices at the Parkinson’s Seminar hosted in Mandan which was organized by the Bismarck Parkinson’s Support Group. Both events had attendees that included professionals, family members, and people who have Parkinson’s Disease.
The Bathtub grab bar provides a safe handle for those who have balance issues when bathing.
ND Assistive has many options to support those struggling with the symptoms of Parkinson’s. Families and professionals can see many of the suggested assistive technology items with the link to the recent presentation. Many people need safety items for bathing, adaptive tools to be independent with eating, or they struggle with shoelaces or buttons on their shirts. Parkinson’s patients must take their medication on time, so our Assistive Technology Consultants recommend many styles of medication reminders and pill dispensers.
Adaptive utensils allow a person to be independent with eating.
People with Parkinson’s often have additional health concerns, including vision, hearing, and memory loss. When health professionals see multiple challenges, referrals to ND Assistive can match assistive technology tools and equipment to improve or maintain the individual’s independence at home. Please share ND Assistive’s information with family caregivers who are worried and worn out. Our consultants are a phone call away (1-800-895-4728), so if you want to look cool with your own set of walking sticks, or you have a challenge with daily activities, we will try to discover suitable assistive technology devices to improve the situation.