Some Hacks I Use to Start my Day with Parkinson's

I use several hacks to make my life safer and easier to live with the symptoms of the ravages associated with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Here is a sample of my typical daily morning routine. All it takes is some planning, a little foresight, and starting my day as usual.

The night before

I usually pick out my clothes for the next day and place them on the top of my dresser. Then, after my activities of daily living in the bathroom, I change into my red satin pajamas and make sure that my red satin sheets are on the bed. Why red? I don’t know ... I guess it makes me feel like a debonair 1940s movie star. Maybe you are visualizing Clark Gable or Cary Grant?

No! Why red? They say, "A happy wife is a happy life!" Red is my wife’s favorite color. I use satin sheets because it makes it easier for me to slide and turn on the mattress and pillow. It also lessens the wear and tear on my body.

In the morning

As soon as I wake up, I take my carbidopa/levodopa, which is on my nightstand with a cup of water. Before I get out of bed, I do my arm and leg exercises, extremity swings, as well as stretches. In addition, I have a grab bar under the side of the mattress to grab onto so that it is easier for me to get out of bed.

I also do my leg rolls from side to side. This makes it easier to roll towards the side of the mattress using gravity to propel me to a seated position with my feet firmly planted on the floor. After sitting on the mattress with my legs dangling, I stand up and engage in some exaggerated marches to loosen up.

In the bathroom

I use a manual or an electric toothbrush and water pick for ease of doing my oral care. My occupational therapist designed adaptive equipment for me that includes a tennis ball, cut with a slit on the top and bottom. She placed a toothbrush and then a hairbrush into the holes so that I can independently take care of my personal needs.

Then, I get into the shower and sit down on the built-in shower bench to wash my body. For safety, I have a soap-on-a-rope hooked in the shower for lathering up. The prevents the soap from falling on the floor.

When I am done with the shower, I have a large bath towel to dry myself off. Without the water running, while the shower door is still shut, I start to put on my clothes, while the steam is still permeating the shower.

If I accidentally drop anything on the shower floor, I have my reacher nearby to assist me. Outside the shower, all dressed, I put on my zippered support hose and step into my laceless shoes that I just slip my feet into without any struggles. Then I am ready to start my day!

In the kitchen

The night before, I plan what food and equipment I will need for the next morning. If I am planning on having a grilled cheese sandwich, a cup of coffee, and orange juice, the equipment I will need to use is my sandwich maker and a 2-handed mug for my coffee.

I turn on my Keurig, put the pod in, and start the machine. I cook the grilled cheese in a low-cost sandwich maker, which locks on 2 sides.

I turn up the heat, and presto, in a few minutes my breakfast is ready! And now my day begins! These simple lifestyle changes have made my daily routine easier to manage.