What Causes Changes in our Feelings?
Sometimes when I sit down to write a caregiving column I have a very specific idea of the topic I want to write about. Sometimes I just start out by venting my feelings at the moment because they are on my mind. That’s what I am doing today. Life has been...Tired of thinking about and dealing with Parkinson’s disease?
Have you ever been tired of thinking about and dealing with Parkinson’s disease? I really am at this point, so I decided to do something about it. My feeling is that circumstances rarely improve in any substantive way unless we put some ingenuity and effort into...To pamper or not to pamper…
I often have a dilemma that I’m sure most caregivers face at times; especially those with loved ones in the later stages of Parkinson’s – how much help to give to the Parkinsonian. I am a big believer in a certain degree of independence and people doing...Attitude is everything
Being a caregiver is occasionally rewarding and makes me feel good because I love my husband, but it often feels like a stressful problem that I just can’t seem to solve. I can’t figure out why I feel down in the dumps or anxious or unmotivated or angry or...How Do I do This?
When we get married as young adults, we have wonderful, limitless expectations for our life ahead with the person that we love. We have dreams, and hopes, none of which include our loved one being diagnosed with a progressive neurological disease. At first we are able...Are you still trying to develop a positive attitude?
Last month we began a discussion about how important having a positive attitude is to being a good caregiver – and feeling good about yourself. Remember, life is 10 percent what happens to you and 90 percent how you react to it. That may be a hard concept to...I hope you haven’t been freaked out!
I have been thinking about the recent columns I have written and realized that they are reflective of the difficult times Stan and I are facing now that the disease has progressed so much – approaching 21 years. I am imagining that caregivers who are new,...The Stress of Caregiving
Taking care of a loved one is one of the most stressful experiences we may ever have. There are many factors that can be involved in causing stress in a caregiver. Feelings such as anxiety, isolation, frustration, and guilt, fears for the future, and an unexpected and...Hospitalization and Parkinson’s disease
Stan had back surgery – a ‘laminectomy’ to relieve the extreme pain he had been having in his hip and leg. The pain had prevented him from walking at all for several months, so we decided it was time to do something about it. Our neurologist and internist...
Adaptive Eating Utensils
Weighted Knives Forks and Spoons Silverware Set for People with Parkinson’s. Designed to give better control for those with dexterity concerns, this four-piece set includes one each: tablespoon, teaspoon, knife, and fork with rubberized handles to make mealtime easier and more pleasant.