Dealing With Parkinson's Disease: A Guide For Patients And Families

Support For Caregivers

Caregivers for Parkinson's disease patients do not need to solely focus on providing support and help to the person they are caring for. To be a good caregiver to someone with Parkinson's disease, an individual needs to set aside time to be away from the duties of their caregiving, ask for and seek out help when it is needed, and maintain their social connections outside of caregiving. Multiple resources can help caregivers, including community and local services like friends, synagogues, adult day health, meals on wheels, neighbors, churches, and door-to-door vans. A social worker from the loved one's hospital, healthcare provider, or healthcare plan can be a valuable asset in locating and connecting with other services that can be of assistance. Local support groups may benefit an individual acting as a caregiver for a loved one with Parkinson's disease. Caregivers can also benefit from attending medical appointments with their loved one to ask questions and address concerns.