We have a full schedule most days that revolves around my husband’s diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease. We exercise one hour a day 5 to 6 times a week and take daily walks. He naps every afternoon for an hour and our meals need to be on a timely schedule to meet his medication needs. Add to this the fact that doing anything takes more time now because of the disease and daily life becomes complicated.

When we have the opportunity to do something different, such as meeting with friends, it takes thought and planning to figure out what adaptations we can make and still meet our other needs. Maybe we skip the nap for a day or take a day off exercising and do something active on our own. What I have learned is that he needs to make the decisions, usually on the day itself, of what we can do to make things work, and I need to listen. If he is having a good day, missing his nap probably wouldn’t be a problem, however if he is struggling just to get through, that nap can serve as a “reset” and help him gain control of his symptoms.

So, we work to schedule activities that will not interfere with our regular routines. Most of our friends understand the challenges my husband faces and are understanding if we need to change plans at the last minute. What we are trying very hard to do is maintain those friendships because we know the value they bring to our lives. This journey is difficult enough, we certainly don’t want to travel it alone.