Which also means I may not realize how challenging my life has become as his CarePartner. When I am alone with my husband, taking care of his needs and doing whatever needs to be done seems natural. The changes in my role have come on slowly as his Parkinson’s symptoms progressed. The analogy that comes to mind is that I don’t always grasp how deep I am in the pool until the water is over my head. Suddenly I am struggling to survive, when did it get this crazy?

This is where I give credit to knowing others who have Parkinson’s Disease and the people who are caring for them. When I am around others in our PD support network, I have a chance to see things differently. I see the CarePartners struggling and hear them speak of challenges similar to those I am facing. I recognize myself in their stories and begin to understand that, perhaps, we are further along in this journey than I thought.

It was being around my fellow CarePartners that enabled me to ask for and receive in-home care. It is being with these kindred spirits that helps me set reasonable boundaries for myself. Watching them in action and talking with them as we all work so hard to help our loved ones gives me a better, clearer perspective. When I am at home with my husband, I can fool myself that his diagnosis hasn’t changed us that much. Being around our support network, on the other hand, keeps me accountable reminding me that things have and will continue to change and that it’s all okay. Truly understanding and accepting the progression of his illness, and the challenges it brings for both of us, allows me to be a better CarePartner for him and a better person for me.