We are part of a larger group of People with Parkinson’s and their CarePartners who get together monthly to have breakfast. We have it set up so that the CarePartners sit at one table and the People with Parkinson’s sit at another so each group can talk about our challenges. It is a very good and supportive social activity for everyone.

What we have found is that the CarePartners are ready for the interactions, we are talking the moment we all arrive. Some of our PwP’s on the other hand, seem to have difficulty engaging. Understandably, a restaurant can be noisy and distracting, yet my husband will often jokingly complain that we CarePartners are too noisy and accuse us of laughing at them. They always finish their meals and conversations long before we do and are ready to leave.

I believe that this monthly outing is good for my husband, regardless of the challenges it places on him. By sitting at another table, he cannot look to me to order for him or finish his sentences. Everyone at his table shares the diagnosis and understands when someone struggles to speak loud enough or maybe drops a utensil. It is a safe gathering place for all of us as we struggle to find our way on this PD journey.