For more than 20 years, Lonnie has served as caregiver for her husband who is in the fight of his life with PD. Lonnie Ali and a PD specialist developed the following caregiver tips, based on Lonnie's life experiences in caring for her husband. These caregiver tips aim to arm caregivers with guidelines for dealing with both daily issues and lifelong challenges.
Be positive and fight for more: Keep your spirits up. My husband and I focus on what he can do, not what he can't do. Realize that PD is manageable and don't let it stop you and your loved one from pursuing your dreams.
Empower yourself with knowledge: Educate yourself about all aspects of the disease and caregiving, including medication side effects, disease symptoms and progression, and new treatment options. There are a number of sites to enhance your knowledge, including www.FightForMORE.com.
Keep PD in perspective: As debilitating as PD can be, try to keep a sense of normalcy in your everyday life. Visit with family. Enjoy hobbies. Don't let the disease overtake your life.
Keep you and your loved one active: Go on walks or engage in a fun physical activity. My husband didn't want to use our home gym, but when I signed him up for physical therapy, he loved it. When he bicycles next to others, he races them. The real competitor in him comes out.
Click here to download the full Caregiver Tip Sheet PDF.
Click here to download Lonnie's Young Onset Care Partner Tip Sheet PDF.
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