April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month, and this month, we are excited to introduce you to some of our team members at the Klein Family Parkinson’s Rehabilitation Center at Jefferson Moss-Magee Rehabilitation. Founded in 2019, the Center integrates research and clinical care from different disciplines to enhance quality of life for patients and their caregivers and keep people with Parkinson’s disease active in their daily lives. Occupational therapy is a key component of this multi-disciplinary care, and in this interview, Davis Berzins, OT, shares his experiences and insights as an occupational therapist working with patients with Parkinson’s disease.
Can you tell us more about your background and how you decided to pursue occupational therapy?
I am an outpatient neurological occupational therapist and was part of the founding team on the Klein Family Parkinson's Rehabilitation Center. I was introduced to the rewarding nature of working with people with Parkinson's disease as a student on clinical rotation at a movement disorders center. I decided to pursue occupational therapy because of the profession's focus on helping the whole person by enabling them to do the things they want and need to do.
What are your roles and responsibilities within the Klein Family Parkinson’s Rehabilitation Center?
I am a founding member of the center's rehabilitation team. As an occupational therapist, my role is to assess and treat people with Parkinson's disease as it relates to their ability to participate in meaningful daily activities and life roles. This includes strategies and training to maximize independence in a range of areas. We focus on basic daily activities, such as dressing, eating, sleep, and bathing, all the way to more complex activities, such as preserving their ability to work and enjoy leisure activities. These may include things like golf, caring for grandchildren, and many other things important to each person's unique life.
What has it been like for you to work with individuals with Parkinson's disease and their families and caregivers?
Parkinson's disease is a challenging diagnosis because each person has a unique presentation of motor and non-motor symptoms that interact with their unique life roles and activities. Despite this challenge, working with people with Parkinson's disease, their families, and care partners is extremely rewarding. This is encapsulated in the experience of people and their families reporting the sentiment that, "We thought we weren't going to be able to do this again, but now we can."
Can you describe how occupational therapy can benefit people with Parkinson's disease?
Occupational therapy can help people with Parkinson's disease in many ways. As a first step, we conduct a detailed evaluation of activities that they are having difficulty with. Then we collaborate with the person and their care team to enable them to manage things like tremor, rigidity, or balance impairments to prevent premature dropping of meaningful activities. Being able to retain their independence and continue to engage in activities they enjoy can really enhance quality of life.
Is there something you would like people to know about Parkinson's research or care during Parkinson's Awareness Month?
One of the most important things that people need to know is that the best outcomes for people with Parkinson's disease are connected with having a strong care team. The highly individualized nature of people’s lives and their symptoms requires a coordinated team consisting of therapists, a movement disorder neurologist, specialty physicians, and a social worker. This care team helps navigate the complexity of Parkinson's disease with person-centered care and support.