Question

A client with stage III Parkinson disease was referred to home health occupational therapy. The client presented with festinating gait but the OTR also observed that the client is still ambulatory. The client's wife expressed concern that the client refuses to use a walker and may fall at home when she is not around. Which of the following environmental modifications is MOST BENEFICIAL for the client?

1) Install a raised toilet seat in the bathroom
2) Remove the throw rugs in the hallway
3) Place the walker nearby as a reminder to use
4) Encourage the client to remain seated until spouse is available

Answer 1

The most beneficial environmental modification for a client with stage III Parkinson's disease is to remove the throw rugs in the hallway to reduce tripping hazards and create a safer walking environment.

Step-by-step explanation:

Given the scenario where a client with stage III Parkinson's disease displays a festinating gait and refuses to use a walker, leading to a risk of falls, the most beneficial environmental modification would be to remove the throw rugs in the hallway. This intervention helps to reduce tripping hazards and create a safer walking environment in the home. While a raised toilet seat may assist with bathroom safety and placing the walker nearby might encourage its use, eliminating the immediate and dangerous tripping hazard takes precedence for preventing falls. Encouraging the client to remain seated would not be an ideal approach as it can contribute to decreased mobility and potentially exacerbate Parkinson's symptoms.