Caregiver Resources for Parkinson’s
Spouses, family members, and friends very often serve as caring partners to individuals with Parkinson’s disease.
Though they do not have the diagnosis of PD themselves, the lives of care partners are also greatly affected by the disease. Being the caring partner of a person with PD requires a major transition of roles and adjustment of expectations about the future.
PCLA is here to support the open communication, education, and teamwork that are vial elements in the relationships among you and your caregiving partners.
Caregiver Resources
The USC Family Caregiver Support Center offers a wealth of resources for family caregivers, including caregiver education, tips, support groups, and more.
The national Caregiver Action Network offers online forums for caregiver support and a Family Caregiver Toolbox.
The Caregiver Space is an active community offering personal stories, articles of interest, an email newsletter, and more.
The Family Caregiver Alliance offers resources including an online community and virtual caregiver support groups.
Los Angeles County’s Family Caregiver Support Program provides support to family caregivers who qualify.
Publications on Parkinson’s Caregiving
Caring and Coping, from the Parkinson’s Foundation (also available in Spanish)
Parkinson’s Care Partner Rulebook, from the Davis Phinney Foundation (request a free digital copy by email)
The Carer’s Guide, from Parkinson’s UK
You, Your Loved One, and Parkinson’s Disease: Advice from Lonnie Ali and the Michael J. Fox Foundation, from the Michael J. Fox Foundation
UPCOMING EVENTS FOR CAREGIVERS
Caregiver Stories
Meet Our Los Angeles Community: Introducing “Life Lessons from a Care Partner”
This month, Leslie Rodier shares with us her family’s Parkinson’s story and how she learned to care for herself while balancing her family’s needs. Leslie’s husband Bob Potter serves on PCLA’s Board of Directors. In September 2006, Bob was diagnosed with Parkinson’s....
Life Lessons from a Care Partner: Care Taking at Home
By Tom Knechtel My husband Bob collapsed from sepsis, and, after two months in hospitals and rehab places, I brought him home and cared for him until he died, five months later. Here’s some of what I learned during that time. The task of caring for someone at home can...