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Left: Zoe Butchen was 14 when her dad, Jeff, was diagnosed with Parkinson’ s. Zoe Butchen, her mom, Heather, and her brother, Cole, discuss health concerns with Jeff as a family.“ My mom doesn’ t feel quite so alone in addressing things that way,” Zoe explained.
Right: Kate Harmon embraces her dad, Bob, at her wedding in 2023. She encourages other care partners to give themselves grace:“ It’ s hard and it’ s heartbreaking, but you do it because of love.”
Put Process Around Parkinson’ s
Separate Parkinson’ s-related communication and materials from the rest of your life. Create a dedicated email address for Parkinson’ s news, research or care correspondence, and other disease-related updates. Keep medical notes and educational materials in clearly labeled folders or binders. Containing the paperwork contains the mental load.
Welcome Moments of Lightness
There’ s a reason why the saying“ laughter is the best medicine” has such staying power: Laughter benefits the body and the mind. A single bout of laughter can markedly lower stress hormones, relax muscles and calm breathing.
Many care partners and their loved ones use humor to ease tension, laughing with and sometimes at Parkinson’ s. Some laugh when situations go sideways, recognizing that at least they’ re making memories. Others joke about misunderstandings caused by speech changes or communication mishaps. Letting in lightness doesn’ t mean you’ re ignoring or diminishing the seriousness of Parkinson’ s. It means you’ re giving your brain and body the rest they need to show up again and again.
Take pictures and do weird things. Just be weird because you don’ t know what’ s going to happen. I have a picture of the last time Mom kissed Dad on the cheek. She won’ t look at it, but one day, she might want to.
Kate Harmon
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