Management of levodopa for residents with Parkinson's disease
Intended for healthcare professionals
Evidence & Practice    

Management of levodopa for residents with Parkinson's disease

Linda Mages Senior lecturer, Department of Healthcare, Northumbria University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne

This article discusses the management of levodopa for older people who have Parkinson's disease and live in nursing homes. It provides a detailed description of the diagnostic criteria and motor and non-motor clinical features. Against this clinical picture, the benefits and challenges of levodopa management are considered. A person-centred approach is championed, as it supports collaborative clinical assessment and decision making between nurses and residents.

To appreciate why a person-centred approach is important for safe and effective medication practice, the pharmacological basis of levodopa management is explained. An empowerment approach to medication management is advocated that facilitates self-medication by residents. To this end, the importance of continuing professional development for nursing home staff is discussed.

Nursing Older People. doi: 10.7748/nop.2016.e833

Correspondence

Linda.mages@northumbria.ac.uk

Peer review

This article has been subject to external double-blind peer review and checked for plagiarism using automated software

Received: 05 May 2016

Accepted: 17 August 2016

Published online: 18 October 2016

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