We have a Parkinson’s Support Group that meets monthly for breakfast. It started as a group for CarePartners and quickly evolved to include our PwPs with one rule- they had to sit at a separate table so we could have our safe space to talk. It has become a wonderful experience and creates so many additional benefits for myself and my husband, things we never expected.

I knew we would enjoy the social interaction, what surprises me are the skill building opportunities the breakfast group provides specifically for him. Sitting at a different table for his meal encourage his independence, he cannot look to me to speak for him. Everyone at the table with him has PD so they don’t notice if his fork shakes or if he struggles to get his words out. As he practices speech and swallowing, he also has to listen carefully to follow the table conversations. They talk about their shared experiences and look for answers together. It has become a time for him to practice functional skills in a safe environment with encouragement and understanding.

When we started, I was looking for an outlet for myself, a place where I could vent, a time to share challenges I was facing with others who were living similar lives. And, it worked, I always come away feeling refreshed and ready to start again. What started with just two or three has grown so that at our last meeting we had 16 CarePartners and 12 of their spouses with Parkinson’s. It has become a very supportive community as we all find laughter and joy in the sharing of our journeys whether we have the disease or love someone who does.