Ethelene Waters needs support for Long-Term Care and to Fund a Handicap Accessible Home. At the age of 37, she was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. After about a year, she was no longer able to work. Her days were revolving around taking her medication to only be functional a fraction of the day. Her mom is her caregiver; cooking and clearing and driving her to all of her doctor’s appointments. Ethelene started a GoFundMe page.
Jamaica, New York, November 22, 2023, On March 25, 2020, Ethelene Waters was diagnosed with Parkinsons. This is after her primary care doctor sent her through tests to rule out what her symptoms may mean. Parkinson’s is difficult to diagnose because there is no specific test for the condition. Symptoms vary from person to person and several other illnesses have similar symptoms, which means misdiagnoses can occur.
Luckily her PCD referred her to NYU Langone, where the doctor was a neurologist and movement specialist. A movement disorder specialist is a neurologist with additional training in Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders. This type of doctor typically has extensive knowledge of Parkinson’s therapies and ongoing research.
Increasing evidence points to biological sex as an important factor in the development and phenotypical expression of Parkinson’s disease (PD). The risk of developing PD is twice as high in men than women, but women have a higher mortality rate and faster progression of the disease. Moreover, motor and nonmotor symptoms, response to treatments and disease risk factors differ between women and men. Which was true in her case.
At first, the prescription of Carbidopa-Levodopa 25mg -100 was effective. As time passed, the dose of medication needed went up. It got to the point that her day revolved around her pill schedule to only be functional for a fraction of the day. Which is why she chose to have brain surgery. After some tests, and psychological evaluation, then MRI and CT scans to map my brain. She had the Deep Brain Stimulation procedure on January 18, 30, 2023. After, she had some complications from the surgery, Pulmonary embolism, Hypertension.
Parkinson’s disease (PD) requires significant care, particularly in the later stages of the disease as symptoms progress and the person with PD needs help with every area of daily life, including: feeding, dressing, personal hygiene, transferring in and out of bed, and medication management. Long-Term Care can mean several things, including an assisted living facility, nursing home (skilled nursing facility), or an in-house aide that helps with dressing, bathing, and cooking.
Long-Term Care can be expensive, for example:
- Assisted living: In 2016 the average cost for assisted living in the United States was $3,600 per month. However, people with PD often require more care and estimates may be closer to $4,100-to-4,600 per month.
- Live-in-care: People with advanced PD need care available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Live-in care ranges from $3,000-6,000 a month, this depends on where one lives.
- At the lowest cost, that’s $3K a month, meaning $36K yearly. Life expectancy estimate is 80, times 40 equals $1,440,000.
- At $4K that’s $48K yearly. Life span 80 @ $1,920,000.
- At the highest is $6K, that’s $72K yearly. Life span 80 @ $2,880,000.
These numbers only include her care. They Do Not include the rising cost of living.
The funds are also going to be for buying a Handicap Accessible Home and Van completely debt free. Also, to fund an account for uptake/maintenance, property taxes, and water bills.
Members of the public are invited to visit Ethelene ‘s GoFundMe page at: https://gofund.me/3f760265
Please visit her YouTube page at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpEo1hMG91c
This is an excellent way to become part of the community of humanity that is willing to step forward and help fund this campaign to improve the life of Ethelene and her mother, who is her primary caregiver. Just imagine trying to cope with a sudden change to the way you are used to go about your daily life. Sometimes help is needed and those who help will never forget how they offered to help a person in pain. It is a Soul Gratifying mission.
Media Contact:
Ethelene Waters
Attn: Media Relations
Jamaica, NY
ethelwatersyopd@yahoo.com
