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.

Yoga for Movement Disorders

My latest find is this DVD  designed to be a companion to the book by Renee Le Verrier (although I am using it alone).   Renee is a certified Yoga instructor and Parkinson's patient who specializes in adapting traditional poses for people with movement disorder.  This two-hour video includes: warm-up series; morning, afternoon and evening flows; sun salutation.  There are standing and seated versions of each, as well as tips concerning balance, posture, and tremor.  I am excited to begin a journey with yoga as a daily practice to improve my balance and flexibility and to help rebuid strength. I believe it will be $14.95 well spent.

The Dodge: Guts, Glory and Living at Full Throttle

Bellingham, WA (PRWEB) May 31, 2012  Artist and Chef Couple to Embark on a Guts and Glory 2, 000 Mile Road Trip Book Tour in their Classic 1941 Dodge Celebrating Transcendence over Parkinson's Disease by Living Life at Full Throttle. I just found this link and thought I'd pass it along...sounds like a good read.
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2012/5/prweb9557886.htm

   Another book for my reading wishlist....

“Take Charge of Parkinson’s Disease: Dynamic Lifestyle Changes to Put You in the Driver’s Seat” has been named to the Top 20 List of Books in Demand Nationwide by Libraries and Bookstores from Quality Books in the March 1, 2012 Library Journal. A “how-to” for boosting physical and emotional resilience with brain healthy nutrition, exercise, and enlightened caregiving, “Take Charge” contains more than 80 original recipes with the widest variety of anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, nutrient-rich ingredients, and culinary herbs and spices known to favorably impact the brain. Author and French trained chef, Anne Cutter Mikkelsen, shares the stirring personal story of how she and her husband, diagnosed in 1993, have discovered how to live well with PD. http://www.prweb.com/releases/2012Top_20_Parkinsons/03Books/prweb9239782.htm

These are a few of our favorite things....

Sometimes it's just the little things that make living with Parkinson's more manageable.  Here are some of the things that we have found most helpful:
          1. Shoes with velcro fasteners
          2. Pullover shirts and pants with elastic waistbands
          3. Electric toothbrushes
          4. Plastic urinals (one hooked over a bedside wastebasket and one under the front
                passenger seat in the car)
          5. Bottled water and an extra pill box with a day's supply of medications in the car
          6. A change of clothing in the car (especially underwear)
          7. Adult sized bibs or cover-all aprons
          8. A plate guard (useful to carry in a tote bag when eating out as well as at home)
               Also, foam handle grips for spoons and knives.
   9. A T-handle rocker knife and case (great for cutting food; also carry in tote
                  bag when eating out)
         10. Office chair mats (keeps carpets clean next to bed;under dining chair or recliner)
         11. Grabbers and telescoping magnets
         12. Velcro to replace buttons on shirts (remove buttons and sew them on over the
                buttonholes so  they look like the shirt is buttoned up, then sew velcro behind
                the buttonholes and on the other side, where the buttons were removed)
         13. Rubberized shelfpaper as placemats so dishes don't slide easily
         14. Cereal dispensers, Large storage containers for chips, snacks and
                crackers/cookies (saves the frustration of opening boxes and bags)
         15. Touch lamp on the nightstand (easy to turn on at night)
         16. Lighted digital clock on nightstand
         17. Door levers rather than knobs
         18. Phonebook card holder for playing cards (take an old phonebook to a copy center that has an electric paper cutter and have them cut the book about 1 1/2 inches from the spine; discard the loose pages and with the spine resting on a table and holding the pages together very tightly, wrap masking tape around the "book" lengthwise, securing the ends and leaving the cut edges of the pages to hold playing cards) a clean/new hairbrush will also serve nicely for this purpose
         19. A lanyard for the cellphone keeps it hanging handily around the neck (we both have cell phones and use them often to save steps around the house and when shopping in stores; they are a must have when help is needed because of a fall or freezing)
         20. Book rest or laptop table (wonderful to keep books, iPads, laptops, etc. steady when reading)