Parkinson's Rehabilitation For Irish Patients.
Intensive inpatient Parkinson's rehabilitation for walking, balance, voice and swallowing, at a 287-bed Rehabilitation Hospital in Greece. At least 3 hours of therapy a day and a three-pool hydrotherapy complex. Reimbursed by the HSE.
No referral or paperwork needed for the first call.
Parkinson's rehabilitation at Evexia Plus
Evexia Plus is a specialist Rehabilitation Hospital near Thessaloniki, Greece, where people from Ireland come for intensive Parkinson's rehabilitation as inpatients. A physician in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation leads your programme, and a neurologist on site reviews your medication timing with you. Physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, psychologists and nurses work with you every day, with at least 3 hours of therapy a day, including LSVT BIG and LSVT LOUD. There is no waiting list: admission can be arranged as soon as your medical records are reviewed. Under the EU Cross-Border Healthcare Directive, the cost is reimbursable by the HSE.
- Led by
- A physician in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
- Therapy
- At least 3 hours a day, goals reviewed weekly
- Where
- Near Thessaloniki, Greece, about four hours' direct flight from Dublin
- Funding
- Reimbursable by the HSE under the EU Cross-Border Directive
- Start
- No waiting list, once your records are reviewed
How rehabilitation helps with Parkinson's
Parkinson's disease is a progressive condition in which the brain slowly loses cells that make dopamine, a chemical messenger that helps control movement. It causes slowness, stiffness and often a tremor, and over time it can affect balance, walking, voice, swallowing, sleep, mood and thinking. Many people have "on" times, when their medication works well, and "off" times, when it wears off.
Rehabilitation does not slow Parkinson's itself. It works on how you move, balance, speak and swallow, and how you manage daily life.
Our intensive Parkinson's programme is built around at least 3 hours of therapy a day, planned by your rehabilitation physician and reviewed with you every week.
How our Parkinson's rehabilitation helps
Physiotherapy for Parkinson's
Daily physiotherapy for balance, gait, turning and getting up, and preventing falls, with treadmill training monitored by heart rate, and robotic gait training when you need it.
Bigger movements: LSVT BIG
LSVT BIG with certified physiotherapists, with daily exercises you can repeat at home.
Voice and speech: LSVT LOUD
LSVT LOUD with certified speech and language therapists, in fluent English.
Swallowing
FEES swallowing assessment on site, swallowing therapy, and texture-modified meals when you need them.
Water
Our three-pool hydrotherapy complex, with hoists and adaptive equipment. Your physician first checks that pool work is safe for you.
Your Parkinson's rehabilitation programme
Your Parkinson's treatment plan is built around your goals by a Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation physician, who leads the team and reviews your progress with you every week. A neurologist on site reviews your medication timing with you, and we follow a protocol to give your Parkinson's medication on time. Most people work with several of these services each day:
Physiotherapy and robotics
Balance, walking, LSVT BIG and robotic gait training.
See the service
Occupational therapy
Washing, dressing, cooking and other daily tasks, and planning for a safer home.
See the service
Speech and swallowing
LSVT LOUD for your voice, FEES swallowing assessment and swallowing therapy.
See the service
Hydrotherapy
Therapy in our three-pool complex, indoor and outdoor, with poolside hoists.
See the service
Psychology and neuropsychology
Memory, mood and sleep, for you and your family.
See the serviceA typical day
The day is planned around your energy, with rest built in, and it changes as your goals change.
Morning
LSVT BIG and physiotherapy for balance and walking, then occupational therapy for daily tasks.
Midday
Lunch served at your bedside, with time to rest.
Afternoon
LSVT LOUD or swallowing therapy, then hydrotherapy or psychology, depending on your plan.
Evening
Time with your family in the gardens, the lounges or your room.
What to expect during your stay
In the first days, the team assesses you and agrees your goals with you, and with your family if you wish. Realistic goals might be:
Rehabilitation does not stop Parkinson's from changing over time, and we cannot promise a particular result. We track your progress, review your goals every week and tell you honestly what we see, including when progress is slow. Gains last best when you keep practising, so you go home with a written programme of Parkinson's exercises and voice practice, and we send a full report to your GP and neurologist in Ireland. Some people come back for another stay when their symptoms change.
From the first call to coming home
Most people have never arranged care abroad. This is the whole route, so you know what happens next and who does it.
Before you travel
- 1
Talk to us
Call, send a WhatsApp message or use the form. We explain how the Cross-Border Directive works and what we need from you.
- 2
Send your records
A recent medical summary, your medication list with the times you take each dose, and any recent scans. Our physician reviews them and tells you honestly whether a stay is likely to help.
- 3
Referral and estimate
Ask your GP or public hospital consultant for a dated referral letter; we tell you exactly what it should say. We send a written estimate in English before you commit.
Your stay
- 4
Choose your date
There is no waiting list. You choose the date, and we meet you at Thessaloniki airport.
- 5
Consultation and admission
The outpatient consultation with our physician the day before admission, then your programme starts.
- 6
Your stay
At least 3 hours of therapy a day, with your goals reviewed every week.
Back home
- 7
Home and your claim
You go home with a home exercise programme, a report for your doctors in Ireland and every document the HSE claim needs.
How the HSE reimburses Parkinson's rehabilitation
Parkinson's rehabilitation at Evexia Plus is reimbursable by the HSE under the EU Cross-Border Healthcare Directive. You don't need a medical card or private insurance.
You pay the hospital
You pay Evexia Plus directly for your stay.
You claim from the HSE
With the documents we give you at discharge.
The HSE repays you
What you paid, up to what the same care would cost in the Irish public system.
What the HSE needs
- 01
A referral letter from your GP, or from a hospital consultant who sees you as a public patient.
- 02Our recommendation
An outpatient consultation, in person, dated after the referral. Have it with our physician in Greece the day before admission: one trip, and no wait for a clinic appointment in Ireland.
- 03Optional
Prior Notification gives an indicative figure, not a guarantee, and with current delays the HSE's reply can take months. We usually advise going ahead without it, because the HSE assesses every claim after treatment either way.
Reimbursable
- The inpatient programme (therapy, nursing care and your stay in the hospital)
- Medicines and tests during the stay
- The outpatient consultation at the HSE's rate
Not reimbursable
- Flights and other travel
- Family travel and accommodation outside the hospital
- Medicines you take home
Before you commit, our team sends a written estimate in English. At discharge we give you every document the claim needs.
Your family can stay with you
Rehabilitation goes better with the people you love close by. One family member can stay with you free of charge, in your room or in nearby accommodation we arrange.
More relatives can stay in seaside hotels in Kallikratia, five minutes away, and a free shuttle bus runs to Thessaloniki. We collect you and your family from Thessaloniki airport, and take you back, at no cost.
Every member of our staff communicates in English, and speech and language therapy and psychology are delivered in fluent English. Meals are cooked in our own kitchen and planned by a dietician, including texture-modified meals for people with swallowing difficulties.
See Evexia Plus before you travel.
Photos and reels from the therapy halls and the pools. Follow us for a closer look.
@evexia.ie on Facebook (opens in a new tab)@evexia.plus on Instagram (opens in a new tab)@evexia.ie on TikTok (opens in a new tab)
Questions about Parkinson's rehabilitation
Does rehabilitation slow down Parkinson's?
No. Rehabilitation does not slow Parkinson's itself. It works on how you move, balance, speak, swallow and manage daily life, and it can help you feel more confident. We will not promise more than that.
Is Parkinson's rehabilitation still worth it years after diagnosis?
For many people, yes. People come to us at different stages of Parkinson's, not only soon after diagnosis, to work on walking, balance, voice and daily life. Our physician reviews your records before you travel and tells you honestly what a stay could realistically achieve, and whether now is the right time.
Do you offer LSVT BIG and LSVT LOUD?
Yes. Our physiotherapists are certified in LSVT BIG and our speech and language therapists in LSVT LOUD. LSVT LOUD works on a louder, clearer voice. Alongside both, Parkinson's physiotherapy works on balance and falls.
Will my Parkinson's medication be given on time?
Yes. We follow a protocol to give Parkinson's medication on time, because late doses can make moving much harder. A neurologist on site reviews your medication timing with you. Any change needs your agreement and is explained in your discharge letter, so your GP and neurologist in Ireland can review it. Please send your medication list with the times you take each dose.
Can you help after deep brain stimulation?
Often, yes. Deep brain stimulation can ease tremor and stiffness, but walking, balance and speech sometimes need dedicated rehabilitation afterwards. We follow safety rules for people with deep brain stimulation, and our physician checks which treatments are safe with your device before admission. Please send the device details and your latest programming report with your medical records.
Do you accept people with PSP or MSA?
Yes, and our physician reviews each case. Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) and multiple system atrophy (MSA) behave differently from Parkinson's disease and usually respond less to rehabilitation. Goals often focus on safety, fewer falls, safer swallowing, communication, equipment and support for your family. Our physician will tell you honestly what a stay could realistically achieve.
How long does a Parkinson's rehabilitation stay last?
It depends on your goals and how you respond to therapy. The length of your stay is set by the consultant at your outpatient consultation and reviewed every week with you. The HSE does not limit the number of weeks it reimburses; it caps the rate. Gains last best when you keep practising, and some people come back for another stay when their symptoms change.
Is Parkinson's rehabilitation at Evexia Plus open to people outside Dublin?
Yes. You can arrange it from Cork, Galway, Limerick, Waterford or any other part of Ireland in exactly the same way as from Dublin. Your own GP writes the referral, we review your records and medication list by email, and the outpatient consultation can take place with our physician in Greece the day before admission. Nothing needs a clinic appointment in Dublin.
Does the HSE pay for Parkinson's rehabilitation abroad?
Yes, under the EU Cross-Border Healthcare Directive. You pay the hospital directly, then the HSE repays what you paid, up to what the same care would cost in the Irish public system. You need a referral from your GP or a public hospital consultant and an outpatient consultation. Flights and family accommodation outside the hospital are not reimbursable.
Where does the outpatient consultation take place?
You can have it in Ireland with a public hospital consultant, or with our physician in Greece on the day before admission. We recommend the second: you make one trip and avoid waiting for an appointment in Ireland. Either way, it must take place after the date on your referral letter.
Can my family stay with me?
Yes. One family member stays free of charge, in your room or nearby accommodation we arrange. More relatives can stay in seaside hotels five minutes away, family can visit every day, and airport transfers are free for you and your family. Our psychology team supports family members too.
