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My Dad (diagnosed in 2013) commonly tells me that stress seems to exacerbate his symptoms. If he runs into a financial predicament, or something doesn’t go according to plan, he often experiences worsened tremors. One way that he’s learned to mitigate these changes is through diet and exercise. How do you minimize the stress in your life? And what…[Read more]

Parkinsons disease comes with a lot of different struggles. My Dad has been married to my Mom for over thirty years, and they’ve had to learn how to manage obstacles like nightmares and aggressive thrashing. My Mom is continuously learning when to step in to help my Dad and when she should let him complete a task himself. How has Parkinson’s…[Read more]

This week, my heart broke into a bunch of fragments when I observed my Dad’s cognitive decline. During one particular conversation, I tried to explain to him what a “Sherpa” is in three different ways. I spent some time in Nepal previously, and he has always followed my journeys religiously. So the concept of a “Sherpa” wasn’t new to him. But this…[Read more]

One of the first things my Dad does when he gets up is stretches. Since stiffness is often a tough symptom to mitigate while you’re battling Parkinson’s disease, he finds that the routine helps to lubricate his muscles for the day. Do you have a morning stretching routine? If so, which stretches are your favorite ones? If not, why not?

My Dad has been drinking coffee for his whole life. But at this point in his life, his perfect brew is split into half caffeinated coffee and half decaf coffee. I’ve always been curious if caffeine consumption impacts my Dad’s medications because I know it impacts mine. Do you think that caffeine impacts your drugs? Have you ever conducted any…[Read more]

Parkinson’s appears to be exhausting. And as a caregiver, I never know how to create the right balance for my Dad. On some days, I think he needs the space to rest and exist. But on other days, I think he needs a little bit of encouragement to get started. How do you find the balance between pushing and supporting? Has your strategy changed…[Read more]

Ever since the globe erupted into a pandemic, my Dad has struggled to attend Rock Steady Boxing classes. While he doesn’t seem to mind the rest, I’ve noticed that his breathing has changed. Lately I’ve been hearing a wheezing that worries me. And I was curious if anyone else has experienced this? And do you think that it could be directly…[Read more]

This month, I was blessed enough to spend a lot of time with my Dad. Having had a Parkinson’s diagnosis for 7 years, our lives often revolve around the ebbs and flows of the disease. Have you found that your family unit has changed in response to the disease? If so, in what ways? And if not, are you grateful for that stability?

Lately, I’ve been tuning into my Dad’s superpower. He has the ability to make anything funny. When we experience a tragedy, he’s the person who makes everyone laugh at the funeral. And now that he’s battling Parkinson’s disease, he often turns the humor inwards, making jokes about becoming the best fisherman on the planet because he’s a…[Read more]

Finding the right medical care can be a tricky process. And Parkinson’s comes with a wide range of requirements. As the disease progresses, many people struggle with the financial portion of managing Parkinson’s. Do you worry about finances in relation to PD? Have you been able to find resources to help?

Parkinsons is different for everyone. My Dad (diagnosed in 2013) is still determining which symptoms are linked to the disease, and which ones are just quirks. One of his strangest symptoms seems to be panic or anxiety. What is one of your strangest symptoms? Have you been able to find ways to manage it?

For Christmas, I got my Dad an Echo Dot. This voice-controlled device can be connected with smart technology for a hands-free experience. My hope was that he could use the Echo to turn the lights on and off to help him stay safe at all times. I’ve already been pleased to see him interacting with Alexa in a way that supports basic activities. Are…[Read more]

It seems like every day is different when you have Parkinsons. On some days, you might be able to run around the block. On others, you might struggle to get out of bed. My Dad tells me that flexibility is one of the things that’s hardest for him to overcome. So, he spends the mornings stretching to combat the stiffness. What do you struggle with the most?