DANCE for PD: SO MUCH FUN !! and a note about the National Parkinson's Foundation

 

 

THE WONDERFUL MARK MORRIS DANCE GROUP

&

THE BROOKLYN PARKINSON GROUP

This is our new FAVORITE THING!! Don and I have enrolled in the Dance for PD dance class at the Des Moines, WA Senior Acttivity Center. The classes are wonderful...IT'S FREE...New Friends...a REASON to GET OUT of the HOUSE...we enjoy the one hour drive to Des Moines and the chance to eat lunch at a restaurant...and best of all WE ARE MOVING and TOGETHER. If you know someone with a PD diagnosis please check the website at "Dance for PD" and watch clips of classes on YouTube "Why Dance for PD".

 

While we were in Florida for our granddaughter's wedding, we had a chance to visit with our son who has just been diagnosed with Parkinson's; he asked if we had visited the National Parkinson's Foundation website and I had to admit that I had not. I picked up my iPad and immediately searched and found so much wonderful information (don't know why I hadn't gone there before...duh!). Our son told us that he had recieved the ID braclet (Free) from contacting them and also a wonderful information kit (also Free)...we ordered two...one for me and one for Don. I was also able to link to the wesite for this fabulous Dance Program and found one in our area (1 hour away) at home in Washington...I can't tell you how much this has helped us already!! We knew we had had a workout after the first class, but felt stronger and able to move better right away. I ordered the DVD they offered for at home use even before we left Florida so it would be there when we arrived home. The other day Don's caregiver arrived at 9:00 a.m. and we were both still in bed and feeling like we wanted to stay there all day, but of course I had to get up and take care of the dog while Justina helped Don. It wasn't long before I was ready to lay down on the couch; I just wasn't moving well or feeling motivated to do anything and then I remembered that I hadn't told Justina about the dance class. I thought that she might like to see the DVD and use the program with some of her other clients, so I put it in the DVD player. It wasn't long before we had the dining room chairs out and we were doing the dances together. Two dances later and I had my ENERGY back and felt motivated to keep on moving through the day. THIS IS THE BEST THING WE HAVE DONE FOR OURSELVES and when the GRANDKIDS came yesterday they each got a chair and JOINED IN...GOOD EXERCISE for all of us and so much FUN...when their mom came to take them home they wanted to show her their favorite dances...QUALITY TIME spent together (even if it was "screen time" on the big TV). So here is the information...hope you will feel like joining us. There are many of these dance classes across the country; check out the website to see if there is one near you.

 

For the Bookshelf

Two more great finds for our Parkinson's library.  First, "Parkinson's Disease: 300 Tips for Making Life Easier" by Shelley Peterman Schwarz; I didn't think that after more than 20 years of living with PD in our home that there would be anything that we hadn't tried to make life easier...but...this book is filled with wonderful suggestions for making everyday life at home and while traveling or having an evening out, easier and there were several things that we had never heard about or considered; we will be trying some of these out shortly.  If you or a loved one is newly diagnosed with PD this book is worth every penny of the $16.95 price tag. Next, Parkinson's Disease: A Complete Guide for Patients & Families by William J. Weiner, M.D, Lisa M. Shulman, M.D. and Anthony E. Lang, M.D., F.R.C.P., is exactly what it claims to be: "a comprehensive resource for coping with medical, emotional and practical challenges" of Parkinson's Disease.  This book, published by Johns Hopkins University Press is the most comprehensive and up-to-date book that we have found on PD and , while it is very thorough in covering all aspects of the disease, it is very easy to read and to understand; not steeped in complex medical language and doctor talk.  If you only had one resource for your information about Parkinson's, this would be the one we would choose.

The Challenges of Care Partnering

This post title is taken directly from Anne Cutter Mikkelsen's book Take Charge of Parkinson's Disease: Dynamic Lifestyle Changes to put You in the Driver's Seat .  The mailman just delivered my copy of Anne's book and I have spent much of the afternoon reading some of the chapters and purusing the recipes. The chapter titled, When a Spouse Becomes a Caregiver, by Nanette J. Davis, Ph.D. lists nine positive aspects of care partnering; she refers to these as "gifts", and they are:
     1. Having an open heart.
     2. Connecting with the generations.
     3. Expanding your coping abilities.
     4. Willingness to experience role reversal.
     5. Reinvigorating family relationships.
     6. Strengthening bonds with the community.
     7. Giving back to others.
     8. Expressing our spiritual values.
     9. The importance of self-care.

As I read about each of these I came to know how they truely are gifts to me as I face my own journey with Parkinson's.  I am reminded of the miraculous blessing it is to have a Father in Heaven who knows and loves me enough to have helped me open each of these gifts as I have cared for Don and our son, Scott, so that I would have these "present" in my life as I confront the  challenges of Parkinson's in a very personal way.  The suggestions for reducing caregiver stress are also, "gifts" I can give to myself (and Don) to bless and sustain us in the coming days.  They are:
                                   1. Start a regular and realistic exercise program.
                                   2. Strengthen your social network (know your neighbors)
                                   3. Follow a well-balanced diet (fruit/veggies/grains)
                                   4. Avoid eating or drinking too much.
                                   5. Breathe deeply throughout the day.
                                   6. Quiet your mind with meditation, yoga, reading or prayer.
                                   7. Be impassioned about your life.

My favorite "gift" is number six.  My favorite scripture is "Be still and know that I am God."  I am, after all, one of his children and he loves me and he walks with me daily.  My role is not to ask "Why?", but to ask "What do you want me to learn or teach through this experience?" Don has been a great teacher for me and we are blessed to have each other as true "care partners"...I love that phrase.