Caregiver

One of the challenges of writing about Parkinson’s is finding emotional balance while I learn about the symptoms that impact my dad on a daily basis. It’s pretty easy to...

In the past I’ve been "blessed?", "burdened?", and "frustrated?" to be a caregiver. Now it is my turn at needing a caregiver. The following is what I’ve learned from both...

I have written a lot about my dad who is almost 87 years old and has Parkinson’s disease (PD) and dementia. It’s been a long road for my dad (Steve) and...

As an introvert, I find comfort in silence. I recharge my batteries from the depths of my home, where I’m commonly reading books or playing music. I think that my...

Ordinarily, I find comfort in the idea that everything happens for a reason. It seems as though certain events have to take place in order to make space for other...

It’s a sunny summer day in northern Michigan when I walk out onto the back porch. Water bugs wiggle around the coast of Lake Ann while I sip my coffee...

If you’ve gone down the rabbit hole of potential Parkinson’s disease (PD) symptoms, chances are that you’ve encountered dementia. The infamous dementia grabs hold of our faculties, causing changes to...

As a certified speech pathologist, I counsel patients with Parkinson's dementia and their families on the symptoms of sundowning. Sundowning is a neuropsychiatric symptom that begins at the time of...

My Dear ParkinsonsDisease.net Community, It is with a grave heart that I inform you this is my last article for ParkinsonsDisease.net. While I have thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated writing for...

The tires of the van hit the highway’s rumbling strips, ripping at a low pitch. My dad was out of bounds again. We were on our way from the cottage...

My brother got accepted into the University of Southern California. He didn’t expect it to happen and frankly, I couldn’t believe it did. He beat out 70,000 other applicants and...

I’m an information addict. Any time I encounter a problem, a question, or an illness, I dive into the bookshelves to see if there are any solutions. Since my Dad...

I'd be lying if I told you that I don't struggle with guilt. Watching your dad cope with Parkinson's disease through a screen seems callous. When we talk on the...

My husband and I recently went on a trip to Glacier National Park in Montana. We had an amazing time and we were blessed by good weather. We chose to go on...

In September 2020, my father calmly expressed to my mother how depressed he felt as she got ready for work. When my mother called me that morning, she decided to...

The tears streamed down my face on a late fall morning in Michigan. I’d just made it to my cousin’s house after being home for a while. And I couldn’t...

I’m scrolling through comments on a Parkinson’s forum when I read a note from a stranger. She says that she struggles with "facial masking" and she hopes that her loved...

A sudden event and worsening neurological symptoms in my father forced me and my family to reach out to a specialized neurologist. This doctor has done extensive research in movement...

After years spent calling insurance reps, Googling, and talking to health insurance agents, I have finally accepted the truth. Until my father received a diagnosis confirming he has dementia, I...

Over the winter months, I went home to see my family. While my dad and I sat in front of the flickering blue television screen, I began to notice something...