Being a CarePartner is difficult, but the good news is that we don’t have to take on this task alone, there are just too many resources out there to support us. National foundations that provide support for your Person with Parkinson’s also have information for Partners. Even more important to me are the regional and local supports that are available. There is nothing so wonderful as sitting across the table from someone who really understands what I am facing every day as a CarePartner because they live with someone with Parkinson’s Disease too. In this journey, connections matter.

I won’t try to name the many different resources available; I just encourage everyone to look for help. It was years of struggling before I finally got smart enough to look. Then, a quick internet search for me and I found national organizations as well as state resources. Contacting our closest state resource gave me local names to call. Within a few hours I was talking to someone in our community and making plans to attend our first PD support group meeting. I couldn’t make it through my days without my network of support. I often find myself thinking about them and remembering tips we have exchanged.

In case you are still unsure where to start, here are a few websites that I find particularly helpful- Parkinson’s Foundation, www.parkinson.org; Davis Phinney Foundation, www.davisphinneyfoundation.org ; and the Michael J. Fox Foundation, www.michaeljfox.org. All of them have information for families and Davis Phinney’s wife Connie actually leads a monthly virtual support group that I enjoy. Again, the best support comes from those who are also living the life and I find it in my local network. Know the resources and use them, they can make your life as a CarePartner much easier as we all share the journey together.