Julie Carter 00:00:05
When you live with somebody who has Parkinson's disease, in many ways you also have Parkinson's disease. That is why I think of this disease as a family disease. I'd like to offer you today some strategies for how to live the best way possible with someone with Parkinson's disease.
The very first strategy is to recognize that you too have needs. Those needs, although they're different, are just as important as the person who has Parkinson's disease. When you have needs, it's important to be able to articulate those, especially to the person you live with, as well as others. Relationships are truly built on reciprocity, and the person who has Parkinson's disease has something to give you, just as you have something to give them.
Julie Carter 00:00:58
The second strategy is to find ways to express yourself other than verbally. That might be through creativity. Some people do this through journaling, and other people do this through physical activity.
A third strategy, and one of the most important things about being successful in this role, is to be a good problem solver. Life changes; there are many transitions whether you have PD or not. It's important to look at what you've always done and see if it's still working. If it's not still working, be willing to change and try new solutions. The most successful caregivers are the ones that are the best problem solvers.
Julie Carter 00:01:43
Another important strategy is to truly connect with others. There's nothing more powerful than the support of those around you, and this comes in all kinds of different forms. Certainly, support groups can be immensely helpful. Not only are you with wonderful people, which is often a silver lining of this business of Parkinson's disease, but you also are with people who understand exactly what you're going through. There's also peer support, where you find just one person who understands what you're going through.
Julie Carter 00:02:22
Support can come in many, many different forms. It can be with a counselor, it can be with other friends, it can be with a greater purpose. Many people find when they turn themselves outward and embrace a purpose, such as advocating for Parkinson's disease at a national level or advocating for something else, it can be immensely empowering.
Recognizing that you need time to yourself, that you can rejuvenate and re-energize your spirit, is also of great value. By doing that, you actually are better in the role of care partner, and you come back with renewed energy, renewed commitment, renewed personal strength. So in summary, the most successful caregivers are the ones that don't do this alone, that embrace their natural networks of support, who are open to the possibilities before them, and who recognize the importance of creative problem solving.