There are five stages to PD.
Stage 1 - Symptoms are mild and unilateral with tremors, difficulty with posture and balance, and slight difficulty walking.
Stage 2 - Symptoms are moderate and now bilateral symptoms. Symptoms are tremors, difficulty walking, difficulty with balance and posture, and reduced facial expressions.
Stage 3 - Is a progressive stage of PD when loss of balance and bradykinesia (slowness of movement) are increased. The essential daily activities such as bathing, dressing, eating are significantly affected.
Stage 4 - Independent living is almost impossible during this stage due to injunctions in daily activities such as walking, sleeping, eating, and dressing. The person will need assistance with moving around. A walker may help in movement without falling. Although the person may be able to stand on their own.
Stage 5 - The debilitating symptoms at this stage develop into such a sever state that even standing on one's own may be impossible. The person will need a wheelchair to move around and will become bedridden. Requires a round-the-clock caregiver. Symptoms may be delusions, hallucinations, loss of smell and weight, constipation, poor memory and reasoning, vision problems, and sleep disturbances.
