Awareness Be AwareIn Care (NAPSA)—If you or someone you care about is amongthe esti- mated 1 million Americans with Parkinson’s disease, a little know- ledge can be a lifesaving thing. The problem is, research shows, people with Parkinson’s are admitted to the hospital 50 percent more than their peers and three out of four don’t get their medications on time while they’re there. Furthermore, the National Parkinson Foundation (NPF) found that the vast majority of hospital staff doesn’t know which drugs are unsafe for Parkinson’s patients. NPF’s free Hospital Action Plan can make a hospital stay shorter and safer for people with Parkin- son’s disease. Fortunately, you can change these odds. When Parkinson’s is well controlled—you get your med- ication on time, you receive consis- tently good medical care and you’re an active participant in your treat- ment team—you’re more likely to stay well. This lowers your chance of being hospitalized and improves yourability to recover quickly from illness or surgery. That’s why NPF launched the Aware in Care campaign. It aims to make sure every person with Parkinson’s gets the very best care possible during a hospital visit. NPF provides free resources, including a Hospital Action Plan to help people prepare for a hospital visit, whether it is planned or an emergency. For more information about the Aware in Care campaign and to download your free copy of the Hospital Action Plan, visit www.awareincare.org or call NPF’s toll-free Helpline, (800) 4PD-INFO (473-4636), Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (ET).
