Blog

Care partners, care givers, care takers all mean the same thing. You experience life together. In good times and challenging times. In sickness and in health. Throw in the part about chronic illness. When one of you is diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, you both live with it. Most care partners focus on the person with Parkinson's well-being before thinking of taking care of oneself. Generally, the care partner takes the person with Parkinson’s (PWP) to various doctor appointments, run errands and maintain most of the house work. ...

> Read more

April is National Parkinson Awareness month. It would be great for you to make your voices heard throughout the community. There are a number of ways you can let the public be aware about Parkinson's Disease. You can write letters to the editor or your Congressman making them aware of the needs of the 17,000 people in Colorado who have Parkinson's. It is important to keep the needs of the Parkinson's community in the forefront.  ...

> Read more

As I sit here remembering one of the best ski outings I have experienced in recent years, I decided to share my joy with others affected by Parkinson’s disease. The January Parkinson’s Association of the Rockies’ newsletter featured an upcoming Ski Program for people with Parkinson’s sponsored by the Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center (BOEC). ...

My curiosity was peaked. Just three years prior, I thought I had skied for the last time. It was about this time when my brain started to fail in sending the proper signals to the right side of my body; leaving me at the middle of the mountain waiting to be driven to the bottom by the ski patrol. The pain of that moment was indelible.

> Read more

*In this post are a few common ways to assist with writing, speaking, issues with freezing and taking medications. What has worked for you? Please respond on our blog with your favorite tips and tricks that help you get along each day with Parkinson’s.

Are you having a difficult time swallowing your Parkinson's medications? Try drinking carbonated water while taking your medications. The carbonation tends to help make swallowing easier.

Is your care partner having a difficult time hearing you when you speak? Think of speaking "LOUDER!" The LSVT therapy was developed in 1987 by Dr. Lorraine Ramig and Carolyn Mead, both Speech Language Pathologists. It was the first specific voice treatment for Parkinson's patients and has been proven to be the most effective treatment for people with Parkinson's disease. The therapy takes place 4 days a week for 4 weeks. It focuses on exercises to help you project your voice. Until you have the therapy, try practicing shouting across the room. You may perceive that you are shouting, when in fact, you are speaking louder so others can hear you better. ...

> Read more

Walking - we take for granted such an automatic task. Put one foot in front of the other. You stroll along at a brisk pace without taking a second thought to it. That is, until you have been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.

The ability to go from point A to point B may become more difficult for you. At first, mobility was not a problem for you. Now, you may be less steady on your feet. You might even be having balance issues or experience a fall. You notice that you have "sticky feet" where you feel your feet are hard to lift up off the ground. You may notice that it takes you longer to walk across a room, decreased arm swing, sudden freezing and difficulties navigating narrow spaces. ...

> Read more

Here’s the scenario: You, your family member, friend or neighbor has Parkinson's Disease (PD). And, you wonder… “How will this disease affect me?” “Where should I turn for support?”

Where do you go to get information about PD? Do you search the internet, go to the library, the bookstore or ask a medical professional? Is ignorance bliss or is knowledge and education power?

Our mission at the Parkinson Association of the Rockies (PAR) is to educate you and empower you to understand Parkinson's and how it affects you individually. And, we recognize that everyone needs to learn at their own pace, which is why at PAR we have many options to get answers and support. ...

> Read more

At the beginning of the New Year many people make resolutions. A common theme is taking care of your health by watching your diet, quitting smoking, drinking less alcohol and starting an exercise program. Sound familiar? "Take care of your health". What does that mean? In the Parkinson's community it is important to include exercise in your daily routine.

> Read more

This posting is a snippet of the Recently Diagnosed with PD blog, written by Betsy Vierck.

Almost three years ago I was also diagnosed with Parkinson's. Ginny and I became refuges for each other. We have been extremely tight, speaking in a language that non-PDers can never understand.

I learned so much from my friend. I did not realize it at the time that I was acquiring the knowledge. Her influence on me was subtle, which was her way.  I have dubbed  three of Ginny's lessons Ginny Fraser's Three Steps to Living Happily with PD. They exemplify her grace in adapting to her physical changes. ...

> Read more

Recent research shows that regular exercise can help people with PD stay more flexible, improve posture and make overall movement easier. Some studies even show that an exercise routine can slow or reverse some of the effects of the disease. Regardless of the disease, being fit and active makes everyone have more energy and improves overall health and well being. Everyday exercise, even if it is something simple, will help fight the effects of the disease and make you feel more in control of your condition. It’s recommended that a physical or occupational therapist design a fitness regimen specific to helping your needs, but here are some tips that everyone can use for everyday, at-home exercises:

1. Streeeeetch- Stretching  can be done several times during the day, even during the simplest of activities like while watching TV, riding in the car or when you wake up.  Regular stretching increases range of motion of joints, helps with posture, protects with muscle strains, improves circulation and releases muscle tension.
2. Strengthen- Strengthening exercises can help you stand up straighter, make certain everyday tasks easier and makes bones stronger. Visit here for 10 strength and balance exercises.
3. Aerobic conditioning exercise- Examples of aerobic exercises include walking, swimming, biking or dancing. Regular aerobic exercise performed 3 or more times a week can strengthen your heart and lungs, reduce stress and help prevent other health conditions like diabetes.

Come to our next exercise class and get in your daily aerobic exercise! Visit here for more information.

*Referenced from the National Parkinson Foundation booklet, "Fitness Counts". ...

> Read more

Many people with Parkinson's disease experience fatigue. They often say they feel tired, even exhausted. It can be just as disabling and unpleasant a symptom as the motor slowing or the trembling.  Fatigue is typically experienced as a state of being tired, weary, exhausted and without energy. Some people say it feels like walking underwater. Everything is an effort and exhausting. You can have fatigue and no depression. Most people with fatigue are not not sad. ...

> Read more