We are in the middle of winter and my husband is cold all the time, no matter the setting on the thermostat. The shorter days bring on bouts of late afternoon “sundowners”, which for him translates to fatigue and chills, and increase his risk for Parkinson’s Disease related anxiety or depression. We both miss being able to be outside due to the weather and see a definite decrease in our physical activity. January and February are difficult months for us.

We fight these seasonal challenges with supplemental Vitamin D, taking advantage of any sunny days to bundle up and go outside regardless of the temperature and making use of our fireplace to chase away those late afternoon chills. We try to keep to our regular schedule, no extra naps just because it’s dark, and may go to the mall for a walk when we can’t be outside. We both have special lamps on our desks that have “natural light” and sit facing windows to take advantage of any sunlight that might filter through during the day.

We often travel mid-winter, taking off for a tropical location for just a few days. Travel brings a whole new set of challenges for someone with PD, but we find it is worth the struggle. My husband’s winter challenges thanks to PD have given us the excuse to visit several Hawaiian Islands and Las Vegas more than once, perhaps there is a positive side to this disease after all.

For more information about sundowners syndrome and PD see WHAT IS SUNDOWNING, WHAT CAUSES IT AND HOW DOES IT IMPACT THE CAREGIVER? · Parkinson’s Resource Organization (parkinsonsresource.org); for PD and Vitamin D deficiency see Low Vitamin D Levels Seen in Parkinson’s Patients (webmd.com); and to learn about the role Vitamin D plays in winter Everything You Need to Know about Vitamin D in the Winter – Fitbit Blog.