Mary Ichiyama, who lives in Hawaii, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2002 after recognizing her symptoms a year earlier. She describes how home adaptations, targeted fitness training, and ongoing therapies help her manage symptoms and maintain independence.
Transcript
We have rails in the house. They’re along the hallway, in the bathroom, and in the bedroom. Wherever I go, I can use them to help steady myself if I’m not using the walker. The walker is not appropriate for the area that I’m in.
I was hospitalized this past year.
I had PT and OT — they helped. I’m also a member of a fitness training center that we have here in Honolulu, where the trainer is someone who has an interest in Parkinson’s and deals primarily with Parkinson’s patients. He’s a certified fitness trainer in Parkinson’s.
I also have a DBS that’s helped me with motor function and some balance, but not all. And of course, the medications that I take.
