A lot of people are living alone with Parkinson disease. However, living alone with Parkinson DOES NOT mean that you are alone.
In the UK, we are a community of more than 145, 000 people living with it. The challenge that we all have to be able to stay connected is that we need to adapt to our circumstances.
Here are a few tips for making everyday tasks easier to manage:
Tip 1: Personalize your living space to meet your needs according to the most frequent symptoms you have. The ability to organize your own space is one advantage of living alone. Put important items where you can see and reach them, so you can find what you need when you need it.
Tip 2: Have a pair of pliers on hand. This multi-purpose tool can aid you to open jars and bags, to grip small objects, reach awkward places, hold wires, bend loops, and attach wires.
Tip 3: Modify your phone's settings. There are numerous options for making smartphone use easier. Consider enabling the following features to improve phone control and connectivity:
Touch Accommodations: This feature modifies how your device's screen responds to taps, swipes, and other gestures.
Voice Commands: Voice assistants such as Siri and Google Assistant reduce the need for you to use your hands to operate your phone. These tools can be used to launch applications, make phone calls and dictate text messages.
Tip 4: Develop a schedule based on your good/bad moments of the day. Schedule your commitments around the times of day when you feel the best. Determine how many tasks you can typically complete on a "good" or "bad" day to avoid overscheduling. Set timers for your medications so you don't forget to take them on time.
Tip 5: Reach out to your support network. When faced with a difficult task, seek assistance. Even if you can care for yourself, delegating some responsibilities can help you save energy for things you enjoy, such as hobbies or social interaction.
Other tips for the future:
Now, we all know that Parkinson disease is a degenerative one, which over time worsens our symptoms and impact our mobility. It is paramount to keep ourselves safe in the present, but also think about staying safe over time. Few things that come to my mind are:
Start thinking about the tools that will help you have control over important life decisions such as selecting an assisted living facility or nursing home later on.
Start thinking about signing a insurance service. This document appoints someone you trust as your proxy and authorizes them to make health-care decisions on your behalf if you are unable to do so.
That’s about it in this post. Hope that was helpful somehow.
If you have any other tips about how to manage your life when you live alone and have Parkinson disease, please share with us all by contacting me below.