Which is a reminder that, when I am seeking support for myself, there is value in looking beyond the Parkinson’s world for help. This isn’t to say that the many organizations created to help my husband in his journey don’t also have information for me, it is simply that their focus is on him first. If I am looking for someone who understand my challenges, I need someone who is facing them with me. I deserve to be supported in my role and my journey, not simply because I am his caregiver but because I am trying to live my life fully too.

In a group of CarePartners, it does not matter whether my loved one has PD or MS or ALS, it simply matters that I am caring for someone with a chronic and progressive illness. I can share with my peers as we experience similar feelings of loss, frustration, anger and guilt. We can connect over the challenges we face and the difficult situations we find ourselves in. We can learn from each other as we talk about our lives and find better ways to make it through each day.

There are too many websites dedicated to people who provide care for others for me to mention any here. I just googled CarePartner and found 100s of entries and even an on-line radio station that plays music and inspirational podcasts. I have to be careful because the search itself could easily be overwhelming. I simply need to remember that there is help available when I need it because I can always find something that is uplifting, encouraging and written just for me.