Some very good information that perhaps will help to teach people how to treat those with Parkinson's. Very harmful are the following: criticism about things the person with Parkinson's would like to do, or take care of, but can't any more, to be spoken to in a put down kind of voice, to cause them stress over something on purpose because you know it will cause stress, and to show impatience with them when they have to take time to speak and to try to make their voices loud enough to be heard.
And most of all -to be forgotten, because you don't feel comfortable around someone who has a progressive disease. So you don't call, write, stop by, or check on them. Their world becomes even more isolated and they feel as though they don't matter to others any more. If you care for- or care about -someone who has Parkinson's, please read the article. It might help you to understand why their primary caregiver gets a bit put out with others. We're the 24/7 care, and we're the ones who love them the most, and give them the most encouragement possible. We laugh and cry with them, we struggle when they do, we celebrate their successes and work hard on the tough times, and we live on hope for a cure. We watch for any signs of change, when time is of the essence to get to the neurologist. We listen for sounds in the mornings-are they sleeping, are they breathing, we listen for the shuffle of the feet across the floor, and know that we made it through another night. Then we start another day filled with the challenges just like the day before and the day before that. We know that we won't be going on a trip, a vacation, shopping, a ride, to an event, to see friends, or to just get out of the house.
But, we have the best son possible-he comes to get his dad and helps, he takes him home with him to spend 5 weeks of specialized therapy for Parkinson's. He gives up his vacation days to come home. So Parkinson's has a hold on him, too. Together, the three of us hold each other up, and give it our best effort to make the day a good one. This has been a long comment, but I write from the heart-and my heart has been filled with years of Parkinson's being a part of our daily lives. It can't be said in a few words.