Episodio 23: Crear un plan de autocuidado y por qué es importante para los cuidadores
Ser trabajadora social en una clínica significa ser parte del equipo médico y brindar atención a las personas que viven con Parkinson y a sus familias.
En este episodio, hablamos con Adriana González, trabajadora social en el Centro para el Parkinson y Otros Trastornos del Movimiento de la University of California, San Diego. Como trabajadora social, Adriana ayuda a las familias y a los cuidadores a identificar recursos comunitarios y los apoya cuando enfrentan situaciones difíciles.
La meta de Adriana es conocer a las familias desde el inicio de la enfermedad para hablar acerca de los diferentes periodos y crear un plan antes de llegar a un momento de crisis.
Para Adriana, lo más importante es concientizar a la comunidad de habla hispana acerca de la enfermedad de Parkinson para mejorar el manejo médico de esta enfermedad y apoyar a más familias y cuidadores que están tratando de ayudar a su ser querido con Parkinson.
Como noviembre es el Mes Nacional de Cuidadores Familiares, hablamos con Adriana acerca de la importancia del autocuidado: un plan que garantiza que los cuidadores o aliados de cuidado estén atentos a su propio bienestar.
Publicado: 15 de noviembre de 2022
Adriana González, LCSW, es graduada de la San Diego State University, con una maestría en trabajo social y tiene licencia en el estado de California. Como trabajadora social en el Centro para el Parkinson y Otros Trastornos del Movimiento de la University of California, San Diego, Adriana trabaja en colaboración con su equipo para satisfacer las necesidades cambiantes de las personas que viven con la enfermedad de Parkinson y su familia.
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Parkinson’s disease (PD) can be an impediment to certain activities, but with proper planning, people can still pursue many of the things they have always enjoyed. One of those things is travel – to see family, visit friends, or explore new sights and cultures. One key to enjoying travel is planning. Pay special attention to issues that are known to affect how you feel and function.
Packing extra medications when traveling has always been a good idea, but with today’s unpredictability of flight schedule changes and cancellations, as well as the possibility of contracting COVID, it makes sense to carry even more than a few days’ supply of extra medication. Anticipate managing any shifts in medication timing if you are visiting a different time zone, interruptions to your exercise and sleep routines, in addition to unforeseeable events and changes.
In this episode, we hear from two people with valuable advice and tips for traveling with PD. Rebecca Miller, PhD is a clinical psychologist and Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Yale University School of Medicine and is a person living with PD. Occupational Therapist Julia Wood, MOT, OTR/L is Director of Professional and Community Education at the Lewy Body Dementia Association. An overriding message from both of them is “planning for the unpredictability of today's world.”
Released: September 6, 2022
Julia Wood, MOT, OTR/L is an occupational therapist specializing in assessment and treatment of people with Parkinson’s disease. Julia is currently the director of Professional & Community Education at the Lewy Body Dementia Association (LBDA). Julia has served as faculty for the Parkinson’s Foundation Team Training for Parkinson program since 2016 and served on the Parkinson’s Foundation Rehabilitation Task Force in 2021. She co-authored the first American Occupational Therapy Association Practice Guideline for Adults with Parkinson’s Disease in 2022 and serves on the Comprehensive Care Subcommittee for the World Parkinson’s Congress (WPC) in Barcelona, Spain in 2023.
Rebecca (Becca) Miller, PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist and Associate Professor at the Yale School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, New Haven CT, USA. She received her MA and PhD in Clinical Psychology from Long Island University, Brooklyn, and her BA from Barnard College. She serves as Director of Peer Support at Connecticut Mental Health Center in New Haven, using her lived experience with mental illness to inform her work. Her publications and other scholarship have focused on peer support for persons diagnosed with serious mental illnesses, person-centered and recovery-oriented approaches, alternative experiential approaches to clinical training programs, and deprescribing in psychiatry. She recently co-authored the book, Deprescribing in Psychiatry, published by Oxford University Press. Becca was diagnosed with Young Onset Parkinson’s Disease, at age 39 when her daughter was 9 months old, and after living with symptoms undiagnosed for 10 years prior. She has served as a delegate and spoken on YOPD and parenting at the World Parkinson Congress in Portland, OR and Kyoto, Japan. She finds it delightfully ironic that she discovered snails were her totem animal 20 years before diagnosis with YOPD. She currently lives in New Haven with her now 9-year-old daughter.
Episode 92: Clinical Issues Behind Impulse Control Disorders
Impulse control disorders in Parkinson’s disease (PD) are more common than originally thought, affecting an estimated one in six people with PD taking dopamine agonists. They may appear as unhealthy or compulsive levels of shopping, gambling, eating, sexual activity, or involvement in hobbies. They appear to be related to dopamine replacement therapy, so finding the right level of medications can be a challenge to manage symptoms without incurring impulsivity issues. It is important that people with PD, their care partners, and health care professionals be aware of and recognize these activities so that they can be addressed promptly to avoid, for example, social, emotional, economic, and health issues that may result from these disorders. The harm often goes beyond the person with the disorder and can affect family, friends, and others around them. Once recognized, impulse control disorders can often be managed or eliminated by working with a doctor to change dopamine agonist medications or dosage, or in some cases, even going on to deep brain stimulation.
Dr. Mark Groves, Consultant Psychiatrist at the Parkinson’s Foundation’s Center of Excellence at Mount Sinai Beth Israel in New York City, discusses the problem of impulse control disorders, what forms they may take, approaches to recognizing them, and the need to acknowledge them as a biologic condition and not a character or personality flaw.
Released: November 3, 2020
Dr. Mark Groves is psychiatrist specializing in the psychiatric management of Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders and is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Neurology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City. For the last 17 years, he has been the consulting psychiatrist to the Movement Disorder Division and Parkinson’s Foundation Center of Excellence at Mount Sinai Beth Israel. Dr. Groves’s clinical interest in Parkinson’s disease was initially sparked in his early college years when he had 2 Parkinson’s Disease Foundation Summer research fellowships and worked with clinical researchers and patients at Columbia University.
A graduate of Brown University, Dr. Groves attended medical school at the University of California, San Francisco and completed his residency in Psychiatry and a fellowship in Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry at Columbia University/New York State Psychiatric Institute. He is board certified in Psychiatry, with subspecialty certifications in Psychosomatic Medicine and Neuropsychiatry/Behavioral Neurology.
Dr. Groves has published a number of papers and book chapters on Psychological Reactions to Illness, and clinical aspects of Parkinson’s disease and Huntington’s disease, but his primary focus is in the direct clinical work with patients, caregivers and multidisciplinary colleagues treating the psychological and non-motor symptoms of patients with movement disorders with psychotherapy, medications and other treatments. He continues to learn from the privileged opportunity of immersing himself in the inner experiences of his patients and partnering in care with other disciplines.
Episode 139: Community Care Programs for Care Partners
Caregiving can be an intensive endeavor, not to mention the physical, mental, emotional, and even financial aspects of it. Just as people with Parkinson’s disease need support services, so, too, do their care partners. In this episode, Social Worker Cara Iyengar, MSW, LISW, the coordinator of the Parkinson’s Foundation Center of Excellence at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, discusses some of the Foundation’s resources that she shares with care partners, her three-pronged approach to supporting them, some of the challenges she faces in bringing support services to people in a rural state like Iowa, and the kind of feedback that she has received from care partners.
Released: November 1, 2022
Cara Iyengar, MSW, LISW, is the social worker and Center of Excellence Coordinator for the University of Iowa Health Care Parkinson's Foundation Center of Excellence. She is a graduate of the University of Iowa and the University of Northern Iowa and has over a decade of social work experience. Cara has worked in a variety of healthcare and community settings but has mostly focused on working with older adults and caregivers. In her current role she assists patients and families navigate their Parkinson's and related diagnoses and helps them access resources and information.
Cara is the current co-champion for palliative care at her COE and also serves on the COE Clinician Advisory Council on Palliative Care. Since working in her current role, Cara has been involved with a variety of projects with the Parkinson's Foundation, including Patients Advisors in Research (PAIR), Hispanic Outreach Leadership Program, and has served a peer reviewer for the Parkinson's Foundation Community Grants.
Episode 141: How Social Workers Can Help Ease Anxiety about the Unknown
The news of a Parkinson’s diagnosis can be overwhelming. So many questions arise, including how it will change the person’s life, what lies ahead, and what to do first. Social workers can be a vital resource in helping a newly diagnosed person, care partner, and family navigate the road ahead, as well as provide ongoing support through the course of the disease. They are the health professionals who know and can coordinate many of the most helpful resources. Or as social worker Lance Wilson, LSW, C-SWHC, ASW-G, the education outreach coordinator for the Jefferson Health Comprehensive Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorder Center in Philadelphia, a Parkinson’s Foundation Center of Excellence, puts it, social workers are the Yellow Pages for health care, tying people into the resources they need. He says social workers can help put people’s minds at ease by assessing their needs and lining up professionals who can provide medical, mental health, spiritual services, and more.
Released: December 13, 2022
Lance M. Wilson, MSS, LSW, C-SWHC, ASW-G is a Neuroscience Medical Social Worker who works with patients, families, and care partners impacted by the diagnoses of movement disorders, such as Parkinson's Disease.
Lance is a Licensed Social Worker (LSW) in the State of Pennsylvania. Lance holds a C-SWHC (Certified Social Worker in Health Care) and ASW-G (Advanced Social Worker in Gerontology) both specialty certifications from the National Association of Social Workers.
Lance holds a bachelor’s degree in science (BS) in Human Services from Lincoln University of PA and a master’s degree in Social Service (MSS) in Clinical Social Work from Bryn Mawr College’s Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research. Currently, Lance is pursuing his clinical supervision for his licensure in clinical social work (LCSW) and is currently a PhD student of Social Work at Widener University’s College of Health & Human Services.
Cuando uno piensa en la enfermedad de Parkinson (EP), es fácil asociarla más con los síntomas motores, como la rigidez o el temblor; pero también existen síntomas no motores, como los cambios de estado de ánimo, la ansiedad o la depresión.
En este episodio, hablamos con la doctora Elsa Baena, neuropsicóloga clínica en el Barrow Neurological Institute, Centro de Excelencia de la Parkinson’s Foundation, acerca de estos cambios cognitivos asociados con el Parkinson.
La doctora Baena explica la conexión entre el Parkinson y la cognición y cómo pueden prepararse las personas con Parkinson para estos cambios (no sólo las maneras farmacológicas, sino también las terapéuticas).
Asimismo aprenderemos acerca de los miembros del equipo de atención médica que pueden apoyar a una persona con Parkinson y a sus familiares con estos cambios cognitivos.
Lanzado: 18 de octubre de 2022
Elsa Baena, PhD, es neuropsicóloga en el departamento de neuropsicología clínica y en la unidad de neurorrehabilitación intrahospitalaria del Barrow Neurological Institute.
La experiencia de la Dra. Baena incluye la evaluación neuropsicológica y rehabilitación de individuos con una variedad de diagnósticos neurológicos, incluyendo condiciones neurodegenerativas, lesiones cerebrales adquiridas, enfermedades cardiovasculares y tumores cerebrales. También realiza evaluaciones pre y postquirúrgicas para la estimulación cerebral profunda (ECP o DBS, por sus siglas en inglés) y la cirugía de epilepsia. Domina el inglés y el español y es miembro de la Hispanic Neuropsychological Society, la National Latinx Psychological Association, la American Academy of Clinical Neuropsychology, la International Neuropsychological Society y la National Academy of Neuropsychology.
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It was suggested that I might have Parkinson’s disease (PD) in August 2018 after spending a full year wondering what was wrong with me.
Before that moment, I had seen one primary care physician, three podiatrists, two neurologists and a neurosurgeon… not necessarily in that order. When the second neurologist finally said, “It could be Parkinson’s,” I cried.
But they weren’t tears of fear, they were tears of relief.
For the first time, I had confirmation that I wasn’t imagining things. The cramping in my feet (which had started five years earlier), the aching back, the balance issues, the slow gait — none of it was in my head.
That hadn’t always been the response. The first neurologist I saw laughed when I mentioned I was worried about ALS (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), and told me I was “fine,” diagnosing me with carpal tunnel. I smiled, nodded and left, but I wasn’t comforted. I knew something wasn’t right. So, I kept searching.
When Parkinson’s was suggested, the second neurologist explained that the only way to know for sure was to try Carbidopa/Levodopa and if it worked, that would be our answer. It sounded crazy. What was even crazier was waiting three months to get the prescription.
Looking back, I wish I hadn’t gone to that appointment alone. An advocate might have asked the questions I didn’t know to ask.
I kept searching for answers. Because I’m claustrophobic, I couldn’t do a traditional MRI, so I tracked down a “stand-up” MRI. I sat on a bench, helmet on my head, watching an episode of Law & Order: SVU while the scan was done. The results? Inconclusive.
Still, I told almost everyone I met that I had Parkinson’s. I needed to say it out loud to make it real.
Through a connection, I started physical therapy. Several times a week, I worked on the treadmill, balance exercises, and walking on uneven ground. My therapist, Jason, was kind and patient. One day, while struggling with a simple exercise, I broke down in tears. He quietly led me to a back room so I could cry in private. I never forgot that moment of compassion.
Eventually, I had to pause therapy for work travel — and then for foot surgery. A podiatrist diagnosed me with hammer toe and assured me surgery would fix the cramping and rolling in my foot. It didn’t. The surgery, where all but my big toe on my left foot were broken and repaired was one of the most painful experiences of my life. And I’ve had three children.
A week before that surgery, I finally received my prescription. Relief didn’t come all at once, but it came. Slowly, steadily, I began to feel better.
Every day is a balancing act — managing hydration, low blood pressure, anxiety, vivid dreams. I’m constantly learning, adjusting, and searching for ways to make life more manageable.
The Parkinson’s Foundation has been a lifeline for me. Offerings like the Mindfulness Monday Series provides coping skills and helped me discover a real sense of community.
Three years ago, I had an idea for a podcast: Sick As Your Secrets. I recorded one episode — 20 takes later, I realized how hard it is to speak into the void alone. About a month ago, I decided to try again.
This podcast is part personal journey, part shared space — where I tell my story and invite others to tell theirs. My goal is simple: to help, to guide, or even just to let someone know they’re not alone. So… here we go.
Explore the Parkinson’s Foundation podcast, Substantial Matters, as we interview PD experts on the issues that matter most to the PD community — from ongoing research to nutrition and mental health.
Palliative care is extra support for anyone living with a serious illness, such as Parkinson’s. It helps manage symptoms and supports emotional well-being. The goal is to improve quality of life for you and your care partners.
Palliative care can help you:
Manage difficult symptoms such as pain, anxiety and constipation
Cope with the stress and emotional impact of illness
Support your care partner with education and counseling
Plan for future care and make decisions as your needs change
How does palliative care work?
Palliative care can be part of your regular care. In some settings, it involves a specialized team that may include nurses, social workers, chaplains and other health professionals. It often starts with a conversation about what matters most to you, followed by a plan to address those needs. It does not replace your current treatment.
When should I get palliative care?
Palliative care can be helpful at any stage of Parkinson’s, even soon after diagnosis. You might consider palliative care if symptoms are hard to manage, daily life feels overwhelming or you want help planning ahead. It is not limited to hospice or end-of-life care.
How can I get palliative care?
Ask about palliative care at your next medical visit. If you are in the hospital, in rehabilitation or receiving home health services, ask if palliative care is available.
Visit www.getpalliativecare.org to find services near you. Many palliative care agencies offer support at any stage of illness.
Will my insurance cover palliative care?
Medicare typically covers many palliative care services. Coverage through Medicaid and private insurance depends on your state and your plan. Check with your insurance company.
What if there are no palliative care services where I live?
Palliative care services are growing, but they may not be available in every area. You and your care team can still work together to focus on your comfort, emotional support and quality of life.
If you don't have palliative care services near you, here are four ways to advocate for more supportive PD care:
1. Manage symptoms
Prepare for Parkinson's appointments. Before each visit, identify the three things that matter most to you to discuss with your care team.
Ask for referrals to specialists. If certain symptoms are hard to manage, ask for a referral to a specialist with expertise in that area.
2. Support care partners
Work as a team. Share emotional and physical challenges. Learn about Parkinson’s and caregiving together. Talk with your care team and support network about help you may need now and in the future.
3. Care for emotional or spiritual health
Reach out to others. Talk with a support group, counselor, spiritual advisor or trusted friend. These relationships can provide a safe space to share and help you cope with Parkinson’s.
4. Plan for future care
Think ahead. Reach out to others. Talk with a support group, counselor, spiritual advisor or trusted friend. These relationships can provide a safe space to share and help you cope with Parkinson’s.
Document your choices. Complete advanced care directives, such as a healthcare proxy or living will to make your wishes known if you cannot speak for yourself.
Steve Fischlin’s journey with Parkinson’s disease (PD) started with a tremor in his foot, followed by his right arm not swinging while he walked. His next symptom was a stoic expression that left his wife, Lisa, asking if he wasn’t having fun — she noticed he wasn’t smiling. Two appointments with different neurologists and a series of tests confirmed Steve had PD and left him and his family with more questions than answers.
One thing Steve did know was that exercise is proven to help ease Parkinson’s symptoms, so he got moving.
“That first year he was walking every day,” Lisa said. “Rain or shine, he went out walking. His friends at work made sure he walked during his lunch hour. We walked together, our neighbor walked with him, it was a consistent routine.”
All this walking made Steve and Lisa wonder if there was a race or walk that supported the Parkinson’s community, which led them to Moving Day, A Walk for Parkinson’s.
“We immediately got on the committee and started making connections,” Lisa said. “We were both working at the time and had a fairly large Moving Day team, and we were one of the top fundraising teams for the last four or five years for Sacramento. It was a great way for all of us to come together and support Steve and his diagnosis.”
Steve retired in 2020 to focus on his health, and Lisa joined him when she retired in 2023. They wanted to dive deeper into the Parkinson’s community and became members of the Parkinson’s Foundation California Chapter Board. They continued fundraising for Moving Day, but they wanted to do more.
They created the non-profit, FISCH 4 Parkinson’s, a Steven J. Fischlin Charity, dedicated to raising awareness and supporting people with Parkinson’s. They launched a signature fundraising event through the non-profit, the annual FISCH 4 Parkinson’s Golf Tournament. The first tournament, held in August 2024, raised more than $26,000, which they donated to the Parkinson’s Foundation. The event returned in August 2025, raising $35,000 to support the Foundation.
“In the second year we were able to expand the tournament, get sponsorships and really reach out to the wider Parkinson’s community beyond our family and friends,” Lisa said. “It took some time to explain what we were trying to accomplish, and for Steve to feel comfortable telling his story and making connections.”
This tournament has helped Steve and Lisa support the Parkinson’s Foundation and has helped them create their own support network of people near them in the Parkinson’s community.
Parkinson’s Foundation friends at the 2025 FISCH 4 Parkinson’s Golf Tournament, including Vikas Chinnan, Donna Cline and Jeff Bell.
“Last year we had several golfers at the tournament who had Parkinson’s,” Steve said. “Now we meet up with them and their wives three or four times a year. We get dinner and catch up and talk about how we’re doing and things about Parkinson’s we can all relate to. We’re always trying to find more people to join our group.”
Steve and Lisa are passionate about supporting the Parkinson’s Foundation because of the resources and information they have received.
“When you find out you or a loved one has Parkinson’s, you have to just start digging in and learning about it,” Lisa said. “We use the Parkinson’s Foundation website, attend webinars and Steve participated in PD GENEration because his kids were wondering if this was something they could be passed down.”
“The Foundation doesn’t just support people with Parkinson’s, it supports the whole family and care partners, and that’s so important.” - Lisa
Steve and Lisa have also found a great deal of support through the University of California (UC) Davis Health Center for Movement Disorders & Neurorestoration, a Parkinson’s Foundation Center of Excellence. In 2024, the center opened a multidisciplinary clinic that brings together care providers from several specialties, including neurology, speech therapy, physical therapy, nutrition and more.
“To be able to have one stop and ask all these experts questions and find support is incredible,” Lisa said. “We’ve made really strong connections through UC Davis, and we’re able to talk to them throughout the year. This clinic is possible because of the Parkinson’s Foundation, and it makes us feel like we are never alone.”
The next FISCH 4 Parkinson’s golf tournament is scheduled for August 10, 2026 at Catta Verdera Country Club in Lincoln, CA. Steve and Lisa’s goal is to raise $40,000 this year, and are excited that 100% of the money will go to the Parkinson’s Foundation, with 50% going to the multidisciplinary clinic they have found so much support through.
“Right now, the multidisciplinary clinic is only open on Tuesdays, and it runs on donation, so we want to make a difference and support it,” Lisa said. “We’re proud to support the Parkinson’s Foundation and everything it does for people with Parkinson’s, while also supporting this resource right in our own community. We want to be loud about this disease, share our story and raise money to find better treatments and a cure.”
“I’ve met other people who have Parkinson’s, and I will always talk to anyone about it,” Steve said. “It’s a small world and we want to meet with people, do whatever we can to help. We want to talk about it, and we want to help find a cure.”
Create your own Parkinson’s fundraiser! Visit Parkinson.org/DIY to get started.
This article shares real experiences from people living with Parkinson’s and highlights what helps them maintain quality of life. It highlights how:
Staying physically active and mentally engaged can improve movement, mood and cognitive function.
A positive mindset and sense of purpose help people cope with challenges and live more fully.
Building community and support systems reduces isolation and provides encouragement.
Learning about Parkinson’s empowers individuals to better understand symptoms and manage their care.
Parkinson’s disease (PD) looks different for everyone. Symptoms vary, as do the ways people maintain and improve their quality of life. People with Parkinson’s often discover strategies that work best for them, whether it’s staying physically active, keeping mentally engaged, connecting with others or practicing gratitude.
The Parkinson’s Foundation offers a wide range of resources to help people manage their symptoms. Additionally, some of the most meaningful insights come from those living with Parkinson’s themselves.
We asked our social media community to share what has helped them live well with Parkinson’s. Here’s what they had to say:
Exercise and Movement
Staying physically active was one of the most popular strategies. Research shows that regular exercise can improve mobility, balance, mood and even cognitive function for people living with Parkinson’s. Many described movement not just as therapy, but as empowerment.
“Exercise and staying mentally active have helped me the most. I was diagnosed in 2018. Don’t give up. Sometimes I have to force myself to exercise, but I always feel better when I do.” - Val
“I was diagnosed at age 75 and I plan on being here for a long time. I exercise every day, walk a couple of miles, take my medication and listen to my doctor.”- Frank
“A dance class called Dance Health Alliance has helped me a lot. You can even do it sitting in a chair if you have balance issues. It’s definitely helped improve my walking.” - Christine
Keeping the brain active can be just as important as keeping the body moving. Engaging in hobbies, learning new skills and staying mentally stimulated may support cognitive health and overall well-being.
For many, creative expression and intellectual engagement provide both joy and a sense of purpose.
“Learning new tunes and staying musically active has been a real benefit. I’ve been a professional musician for over 50 years and staying active in my music career — even at age 71 — has helped keep my Parkinson’s under control.” - Joe
“I write short stories, read, belong to a book club and take part in quizzes.” - Val
Mindset, Hope and Perspective
A positive outlook doesn’t erase the challenges of Parkinson’s — but many people shared that mindset plays a powerful role in how they navigate them.
“I was diagnosed 25 years ago, in my 40s and I’m now in my 70s. Focus on what you still have. If you have love, learning and laughter — even a friendly phone call or a good book — you are lucky.” - Fillis
“What truly helped me was hope with purpose. When I stopped seeing Parkinson’s as an ending and started seeing it as a teacher, everything changed. Healing isn’t just about the body — it’s about the mind, heart and spirit working together.” - Ellen
“After my diagnosis, I started learning about Parkinson’s and its treatments. I’ve learned to accept it, appreciate the small blessings, exercise, take my medication as prescribed and live with a positive attitude.” - Daisy
These reflections remind us that resilience can take many forms, including acceptance, gratitude, determination or simply continuing forward one day at a time.
Community and Support
Connecting with others who understand Parkinson’s can reduce isolation and provide encouragement. A strong online or in-person support network often makes a meaningful difference.
“As a woman in my 30s with young-onset Parkinson’s, community has helped me the most. Exercise is second and reading The Parkinson’s Plan has also been incredibly helpful.” - Erin
“Joining the Facebook group Life With Parkinson’s and accessing resources like yours has been extremely helpful. I also participated in an eight-week class for the newly diagnosed through my local hospital.” -Lin
Many people living with Parkinson’s find that sharing experiences, learning together and supporting one another strengthens both confidence and quality of life.
Explore our Community Network groups that empower key groups within the PD community — including people who are newly diagnosed, women with PD, those with early-onset PD and more! Find your community.
Learning about PD
Learning more about Parkinson’s can bring clarity, reassurance and empowerment. Understanding movement and non-movement symptoms can help people feel more in control of their care.
“Education has helped me so much. I didn’t realize many of my symptoms were part of Parkinson’s. Learning about the disease helped me understand that I’m not crazy. Physical therapy has also made a huge difference.” - Sharon
When people understand what is happening in their brain and bodies, it can ease uncertainty and make it easier to advocate for the care they need.
Living well with Parkinson’s does not mean symptoms disappear — it means finding tools, support and perspective that help you move forward.
As these shared experiences show, there is no single path. What works for one person may look different for another, and that’s okay.
If you’re looking for support, resources or ways to connect, we are here to help. Explore resources and information at Parkinson.org or contact our Helpline at 1-800-4PD-INFO (1-800-473-4636).
