As his symptoms progress, it becomes more difficult for my husband to get out of the house. When he does go out, it is usually for things related to his treatment plan like exercise classes or support groups. I am so thankful for all the people we have met through his diagnosis because they truly understand and accept us for where we are in our journey. And, while those are excellent opportunities for socialization, it is also necessary for both of us to have connections that are not part of our Parkinson’s network. We need people in our lives who know us for more than this disease and who remember who we were back when.

Family is one option and so we try to get together with our kids and extended family on a pretty regular basis. We may meet at our house, their house, or go out to eat at a restaurant. It helps us remain connected through a shared awareness of our history and love. Our caregivers have proven to be another good connection. Even though they come to provide care due to my husband’s diagnosis, they bring a breath of fresh air into the house twice a week.

Even something as simple as going to the grocery store or the local coffee shop can be helpful. We used to visit wineries with a group of friends but it has become a rare occurrence. My husband uses social media to stay in contact with some family and friends, thank goodness he can still do that. My challenge is to keep him going, keep him interested, keep him reaching out, because Parkinson’s can make our world very small if we let it. And I don’t intend to let that happen.