Advice From A Parkinsons Wife

20 Lessons I Never Wanted to Learn

LARGE PRINT EDITION More than ten million people worldwide live with Parkinson's disease, and their spouses are most likely to be their primary caregivers. The transition from spouse to caregiver is not an easy one, often causing frustration, resentment, sadness, fear, and concern about the future. A lot has been written about caring for the Parkinson's patient, but their caregivers need a book to help them cope with the enormous life changes that Parkinson's brings to a relationship. This book does that. Barbara Davis's husband had Parkinson's for over twenty years. She wrote this book after more than two decades of personal experience because she wanted to chronicle the serious matters that most Parkinson's partners don't like to talk about publicly, and the feelings and frustrations they are embarrassed to share. By discussing these challenges openly and honestly, this unique book seeks to help others in ways that are not otherwise easily accessible, and to let them know that they are not alone in dealing with the negative life impacts of Parkinson's Disease. Advice from a Parkinson's Wife is realistic and enlightening, providing stories and advice from someone who's been there, along with practical suggestions for how to cope with the changes caregivers experience. Among the topics covered in the book are: How your marriage changes and what caregiving does to you How to handle doctor visits What to do about falls, clinging, masks, and variability Handling guilt and other emotions Suggestions for practical things you can do to make things easier Being a caregiver is tough, but with the wisdom, compassion, and advice in this book, the hope is that you can find moments when you can experience something approaching happiness, pleasure, and maybe even joy.

More than ten million people worldwide live with Parkinson's disease, and their spouses are most likely to be their primary caregivers. The transition from spouse to caregiver is not an easy one, often causing frustration, resentment, sadness, fear, and concern about the future. A lot has been written about caring for the Parkinson's patient, but their caregivers need a book to help them cope with the enormous life changes that Parkinson's brings to a relationship. This book does that. Barbara Davis's husband had Parkinson's for over twenty years. She wrote this book after more than two decades of personal experience because she wanted to chronicle the serious matters that most Parkinson's partners don't like to talk about publicly, and the feelings and frustrations they are embarrassed to share. By discussing these challenges openly and honestly, this unique book seeks to help others in ways that are not otherwise easily accessible, and to let them know that they are not alone in dealing with the negative life impacts of Parkinson's Disease. Advice from a Parkinson's Wife is realistic and enlightening, providing stories and advice from someone who's been there, along with practical suggestions for how to cope with the changes caregivers experience. Among the topics covered in the book are: How your marriage changes and what caregiving does to you How to handle doctor visits What to do about falls, clinging, masks, and variability Handling guilt and other emotions Suggestions for practical things you can do to make things easier Being a caregiver is tough, but with the wisdom, compassion, and advice in this book, the hope is that you can find moments when you can experience something approaching happiness, pleasure, and maybe even joy.

Caregiving for those who suffer from Parkinson’s disease comes with many challenges, from how to deal with guilt and loneliness to avoiding burnout and figuring out what to expect from an unpredictable disease. When giving care, too often caregivers neglect their own well-being. Everything You Need to Know About Caregiving for Parkinson’s Disease is not just about caring for your loved one, but also about taking care of yourself. Lianna Marie served as her mother's caregiver for more than twenty years after she was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Drawing on firsthand experience, her training as a nurse, and the many stories of others she has helped and counseled over the years, Marie shares her wisdom and advice—practical and emotional. Written accessibly and without jargon, Everything You Need to Know provides an essential resource full of useful information for all caregivers of those with Parkinson’s disease.

In this "must-read" guide (Lonnie Ali), four leading doctors and advocates offer a bold action plan to prevent, care for, and treat Parkinson's disease-one of the great health challenges of our time. Brain diseases are now the world's leading source of disability. The fastest growing of these is Parkinson's: the number of impacted patients has doubled to more than six million over the last twenty-five years and is projected to double again by 2040. Harmful pesticides that increase the risk of Parkinson's continue to proliferate, many people remain undiagnosed and untreated, research funding stagnates, and the most effective treatment is now a half century old. In Ending Parkinson's Disease, four top experts provide a plan to help prevent Parkinson's, improve care and treatment, and end the silence associated with this devastating disease.

A complete guide to Parkinson’s from two people with the disease who cofounded a national support and advocacy organization. In Living Well with Parkinson’s Disease, Gretchen Garie and Michael J. Church, a couple who both have Parkinson’s and live daily with the effects of the disease, thoroughly discuss diagnosis, treatment options, and the emotional consequences of this difficult illness. With a conversational, pragmatic, and personal tone, they offer advice on such topics as: How Parkinson’s disease affects relationships The role of diet, supplements, and rest and relaxation Strategies for navigating professional life and the maze of the health-care system Handling everyday challenges such as buttoning a shirt or rolling over in bed And more! Compassionate and inspiring, Living Well with Parkinson’s Disease offers knowledge and wisdom from those who understand the challenges of dealing with Parkinson’s every day. “[Gretchen and Michael’s] firsthand knowledge as patients, coupled with their years of experience as experts and advocates, allow them to offer a unique perspective. Using the information provided by Gretchen and Michael in this book, you, too, can live well with Parkinson’s disease.” —John D. Campbell, MD, neurologist and medical director for PASFL, the Parkinson’s Association of Southwest Florida

“John Vine says he wrote this book for people who have been newly diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Well, I was diagnosed 24 years ago, and I still learned something new on every page.”—Michael Kinsley, Vanity Fair columnist and author of Old Age: A Beginner’s Guide Here is the book that John Vine and his wife, Joanne, wish they could have consulted when John was first diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease—a nontechnical, personal guide written from the patient’s perspective. Relying on his experiences over the past 12 years, John writes knowledgeably about all aspects of the disease. John also interviewed other Parkinson’s patients and their partners, whose stories and advice he includes throughout the book. “I wish we’d had John Vine’s book when my brother-in-law was diagnosed. The book is highly informative, unflinchingly honest, and reassuringly optimistic. It’s just what the doctor should have ordered.”—Cokie Roberts, best-selling author and political commentator on ABC News and NPR “John Vine details, in a compelling and accessible way, his experience with Parkinson’s disease. His book is an extraordinary guide to living successfully with Parkinson’s, and a must read for all who want to better understand the condition. Although diagnosed with Parkinson’s, my father lived an active and productive life until his death at age 94. As the book makes clear, while each patient’s journey is unique, common approaches are indispensable in treating the symptoms of the disease.”—Eric H. Holder, Jr. served as the 82nd Attorney General of the United States from 2009 to 2015 “John Vine has written the best primer I’ve ever read for newly diagnosed Parkinson’s patients and their families. It helps them cope with the shock of diagnosis, gives them (jargon-free) the scientific basics they need to know, describes the symptoms they may experience (making clear that every case is different) and catalogs the resources available to navigate living with Parkinson’s. John humanizes the book by describing his own experience and that of 22 other patients and their partners. I’d urge every neurologist to have copies of Vine’s primer on hand to help new PD on their journey forward.”—Morton Kondracke, author of Saving Milly: Love, Politics and Parkinson’s Disease and a member of the Founders' Council of the Michael J. Fox Foundation “My husband has PD, and I devoured this book. It’s wise, wonderfully readable, and, above all, helpful. Since John Vine has PD, he speaks with great authority about the challenges, both physical and psychological. If you have Parkinson’s, live with someone who has it, or just know someone battling the disease, A Parkinson’s Primer is for you.”—Lesley Stahl, award-winning television journalist on the CBS News program 60 Minutes “This is a remarkable book describing the personal experiences of many individuals, including the author, living with Parkinson’s disease. It captures the fact that although there are many possible symptoms in this disease, each person experiences different symptoms and copes with them in various ways. The thoughtful and insightful comments and coping strategies should be helpful for persons with PD, and their partners, regardless of the stage of the disease.”—Stephen Grill, MD, PhD, Director of the Parkinson’s & Movement Disorders Center of Maryland

Addresses all of the new and emerging Parkinson's disease therapies (stem cells, gene therapy, optogenetics, etc.).