My role of CarePartner for someone with Parkinson’s Disease has much in common with my friend whose husband has cancer or my cousin who is caring for her elderly mom. While there are great resources that speak specifically to the needs of caring for someone with PD, there are even more resources available when I research my role of family caregiver. People have been providing care for loved ones forever, I need to be open to tapping into that wealth of knowledge for help in my journey.

When I look at the traditional PD sites such as Parkinson’s Foundation or APDA, the American Parkinson’s Disease Association, I am putting his needs ahead of mine. If I instead visit sites that are specific to my role in this journey, such as the Family Caregiver Alliance or even the National Institute on Aging, I find relevant information written to make my life as a CarePartner easier. And, of course, there is a ton of great information provided by AARP in their Family Caregiving Guides.

I don’t want to downplay the importance of having disease specific information, but much of what I do goes beyond PD. Self-care, coping skills, even resources for basic needs are all bigger than his diagnosis and it is important that I not limit myself when searching for the support I need. One of the most impactful activities I have ever participated in was a holiday celebration of all caregivers, something I would have missed out on had I not looked beyond the obvious. My needs as a CarePartner are not PD specific, I need to remember that fact when looking for solutions for me.