Being diagnosed with a chronic progressive illness like Parkinson’s disease (PD) changes your life forever. Don’t give up or give in to the disease! Today is a very hopeful time for people with PD. I hope these thoughts and observations will help you.
- Be willing to change the way you do things. Remain flexible. Compromise. Accept the help that is offered and accept that more than one way exists to wash the dishes, put on clothes, or get from here to there. Practice patience—with yourself and others.
- Ask your doctor to prescribe evaluations by an occupational therapist (OT) and physical therapist (PT). An OT will help you discover new ways of doing simple, everyday tasks like dressing, eating, and cooking. He can show you how to simplify your work and daily activities and conserve your energy. A PT will help you with mobility and home accessibility. Ask for a home evaluation, and ask the OT and PT to make suggestions for making your home and daily activities safer, more accessible, and easier to manage.
- Always try out any mobility equipment before you buy it. That includes canes, walkers, manual and electric wheelchairs, transport chairs (all four of the wheels are the same size), and three-wheeled scooter wheelchairs. Check out the size, weight, and ease of operation. If someone will be pushing your wheelchair, explain to that person about “courtesies of the road,” includingspeed, cornering, handling leg rests, backing into elevators, going up and down curbs, and the like. If you are considering purchasing a three- or fourwheeled scooter or wheelchair, find one that is easy to transport. Some chairs are lightweight and disassemble easily; others may require a lift that picks up the chair and puts it into the vehicle with minimal physical effort. Some automobile manufacturers, like Ford and Toyota, offer discounts and/or rebates for the purchase of adaptive equipment for people with disabilities. Ask your dealer about options and programs available.
- Make exercise part of your life. Exercise does not reverse or delay the symptoms of PD, but it does help you make full use of your potential and improve your quality of life. It also helps prevent complications, such as contractures of rigid, poorly moving limbs. Walking, swimming, range-of-motion exercises, and simple stretching regimens offer opportunities to socialize and can do wonders for your energy level, strength, and general feeling of well-being. Yoga and tai chi can help with balance, as well as providing a time for quiet meditation. Mindfulness classes can help you de-stress and focus on the most important things—your family and your life, rather than your illness. Your doctor or physical therapist can suggest an exercise program that will help keep you active no matter what your physical limitations or energy level. Ask several friends and/or family members to be your work-out buddies, so that you can have daily encouragement to adhere to your program.
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