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Research Article: Home-based exercise rehabilitation experience for older adult patients with Parkinson’s disease and caregivers: a qualitative research

Date Published: 2025-12-22

Abstract:
To understand the real-life experiences and needs of older adult patients with Parkinson’s disease and their caregivers regarding home-based exercise rehabilitation, and to provide evidence for developing scientifically grounded home exercise rehabilitation intervention programs. A total of 15 older adult patients with Parkinson’s disease and 13 caregivers from the Neurology Department of a tertiary-level Class A hospital in Urumqi were selected using purposive sampling for semi-structured interviews. Data analysis and theme extraction were conducted using content analysis. The analysis identified three primary themes: (1) “The Knowledge–Practice Gap in Self-Management,” in which poor understanding of PD and exercise benefits resulted in low motivation and a lack of accessible skills led to monotonous routines; (2) “The Unsupported Caregiver: A System and Family Gap,” in which the efforts of caregivers were hindered by their own limitations and a lack of training, compounded by the absence of family and community support networks; and (3) “An Appeal for an Integrated Support Continuum,” which reflected a strong need for ongoing professional guidance and comprehensive social and policy support. Systemic multidimensional bottlenecks, specifically a critical knowledge–practice gap among patients and a stark lack of support for aging caregivers, hinder home-based exercise rehabilitation for older adults with PD in northwest China. To address these context-specific barriers, healthcare systems should develop an integrated “hospital–community–family” care model that provides continuous professional guidance and robust social support, ultimately aiming at improving rehabilitation efficacy and quality of life.

Introduction:
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder ( 1 ). Recently, the annual prevalence of PD has increased. With the acceleration in population aging, the global number of patients with PD is projected to increase to 10 million by 2030 ( 2 ). The primary clinical manifestations of PD include tremors, muscle rigidity, bradykinesia, postural instability, dysarthria, dysphagia, and sleep disorders ( 3 ). Medication is currently the primary treatment option for patients with PD. However, long-term use…

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