Caregiver

When I decided to apply for graduate school, I chose the best programs. I only wanted programs that were top 10 in my field. It just so happened, none of...

Sometimes, when I decide to act my age, I go off routine. I get wild and have my coffee at 11 AM instead of 10:30. Or I don’t make lunch...

Thank goodness, I have a Parkinson's life coach (PLC) and advisor. This individual is the best PLC and advisor to lead the Team "Marc." My life coach is better than any...

I grew up in a 2 parent home. My dad worked as a realtor. My mom occasionally taught piano lessons and raised 6 kids. For most of my early years...

In the most recent conversation we had with my father’s neurologist, he was able to look back at the progression of my father’s Parkinson’s disease (PD) and guesstimate what the...

Sometimes I wonder if my coping mechanism is avoidant. I have the travel bug and I can commonly be found in a different location every weekend. I love seeing and...

It’s 9:00 AM when my phone lights up. “Good Morning, Mary Beth!!!!!!!” My dad’s text message is enthusiastic and seemingly filled with joy. “Lol. Morning Dad, I love you.” I...

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is an illness largely defined by changes in motor control. Early symptoms include tremors, stiffness, and walking/balance problems. As the disease progresses, many will also develop dementia...

Learning how to care for a loved one with Parkinson’s is not something that happens overnight. Most people in the community learned how to provide the right level of care...

“I’m okay, Mary Beth.” My Dad says between sips of soda. We’re sitting in a local diner, waiting for our food to arrive on a crisp fall day. His words...

The past several weeks have been a harsh reminder of what could happen when the person we depend on the most, our Parkinson's disease caregiver/partner, suddenly becomes ill. My husband...

It’s easy to hate a disease like Parkinson’s. There are few things that seem as malicious and designed to cause destruction. I’m not typically someone who sees the world in...

I’ve always had the kind of soul that’s hungry to see new beginnings - a gentle sunrise over the Smoky Mountains or pieces of coral reef emerging from the Costa...

Millions of people are caring for loved ones who are sick or disabled. In fact, some 25 percent of U.S. adults report providing care or assistance to someone with a...

Most of us know what a caregiver does, but not everyone fully understands what it is like to be a caregiver until they are in that role. To start a...

When my father first started feeling the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease (PD), we, as his family, had no choice but to feel for him. There was no cheering him up...

For the last few months, I have thought about all my fellow care partners often. I'm often wondering how caregivers are coping with these difficult times, being isolated, schedules turned...

There are a couple of things about being a 24-year-old girl that are fun. The endless confusion about your direction in life. The not so subtle jokes that it’s all...

I recently participated in an online meeting where staff members of various Parkinson’s organizations were commenting on the forced necessity of moving support, education, and exercise programs online to continue...