Coping skills
... Living with any chronic illness can be difficult, and it''s normal to feel angry, depressed or discouraged at times. Parkinson''s disease presents special problems because it can cause chemical change...

Tips for Caregivers
... The following tips offer some guidance on how to maintain and improve your caregiving relationship: Take time for yourself. Make sure that you have time to relax-if necessary enlist the help of other ...

Caregiving: Preparing Your Home
... In taking the proper steps to become a successful caregiver, it is essential that you prepare your home for you loved one’s arrival. Likewise, if your loved one has experienced a mild stroke, or has a...

Caregiving: Recognizing Burnout
... Caregiver burnout is a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion that may be accompanied by a change in attitude -- from positive and caring to negative and unconcerned. Burnout can occur wh...

Planning for Incapacity: Legal Issues of Caregiving
... As a caregiver, you should begin making legal preparations soon after your loved one has been diagnosed with a serious illness. People with Alzheimer''s disease and other long-term illnesses may have ...

Caregiving: Adult Transportation
... A means of transportation is an essential ingredient in maintaining a person’s independence. It is especially important for people as they grow older. Transportation allows them to run errands, go to ...

Caregiving: Planning Daily Activities
... For a person with a disease such as Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s, many aspects of daily life become affected. However, with careful planning and activity modification, the caregiver can help make these ...

Resources for Caregivers
... National Organizations American Health Care Association (AHCA) 1201 L St., N.W. Washington, DC 20005 (202) 842-4444 or (202) 842-3860 www.ahca.org/ Family Care America www.familycareamerica.com Family...

Caregiving: Respite and Adult Day Care
... No matter how efficiently and effortlessly you have adapted your life to the role of caregiver, eventually you are going to need a break. Occasional breaks are essential not only to your emotional wel...

Keys to Successful Caregiving
... Caregivers work hard to enable their loved ones to live as independently as possible and with the highest possible quality of life. But studies show that caregivers who don''t look after themselves ar...

The Role of the Caregiver
... Do you realize how much you do? You help maintain the quality of life for your spouse, parent, family or friend with Parkinson’s disease. You become educated about symptoms, treatments and the progres...

Speech Therapy for Parkinson''s Disease
... Dysarthria (difficulty speaking) and dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) can be a severely limiting symptoms of Parkinson’s disease and can be helped by referral to a speech pathologist. Until recently,...

Physical & Occupational Therapy (Parkinson''s Disease)
... Physical therapyThe symptoms of Parkinson’s disease may cause you to move more slowly. You may also feel tightness, pain and weakness, especially in the muscles and joints. Physical therapy may help w...

Parkinson''s Disease and Traveling
... Traveling should be an enjoyable experience and should not be limited or avoided because of Parkinson’s disease. But remember the importance of planning ahead! The following guidelines should help to ...

Counseling and Parkinson’s Disease
... Parkinson’s disease, as with many chronic illnesses, will affect you both physically and mentally. It is important to realize that you are not alone, and that if you feel you need help coping you shou...

Depression and it''s Role in Parkinson’s Disease
... What is depression? Depression is a medical illness. Specifically, depression is a mood disorder caused by a chemical imbalance. The term "mood" refers to an emotional state that affects how...

Guided Imagery and Relaxation
... What is guided imagery? Guided imagery is a proven form of focused relaxation that helps create harmony between the mind and body. Guided imagery coaches you in creating calm, peaceful images in your ...