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We asked: How do you motivate your loved one?
Jessie: Billy’ s apathy was strong. But he loved sports, so TV was a motivator. He also helped me when I cooked and got motivated to see his daughter.
Prentis: Motivation must come from the individual. I ask Christie questions with intention, like“ Are you going to ride the bike today?” rather than“ When are you going to …” That gives Christie the space to make the decision while also signaling that I think it’ s important.
Addressing apathy requires patience and consistency. Try breaking activities into smaller, more manageable pieces; instead of,“ Let’ s clean the garage,” start with,“ Let’ s spend 10 minutes organizing this shelf.” Creating a daily routine also can reduce the need for constant decisionmaking, which can feel overwhelming for someone with apathy.
Gentle encouragement works better than pressure. Invite your loved one to join you for a short walk rather than insist they get up and exercise. Make activities collaborative. Frame them as something you can enjoy together, such as cooking a favorite meal or listening to music while folding laundry. Celebrate even the tiniest of efforts, and remind yourself that it’ s Parkinson’ s causing the apathy, not your loved one intentionally being difficult.
Heather: I frame it as something not just for Jeff, but for us. For example, we decided on deep brain stimulation because it was affecting all of us. I encourage Jeff to socialize, travel and exercise because it’ s good for his health— and our relationship.
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