For Care Partners
Parkinson’s disease progresses over time — so does your role as a care partner. Explore all stages of the care partner journey and practical tips that can help along the way.
November is Caregivers Month
This November we honor care partners during National Family Caregivers Month. Specifically, we highlight the importance of caregiver well-being and addressing the challenges of burnout.
Caregiver burnout is a state of physical, emotional and mental exhaustion experienced by individuals who care for others, typically family members or loved ones, who are unable to care for themselves.
Throughout the month, we aim to raise caregiver burnout awareness, provide support and resources and highlight the importance of self-care initiatives to empower caregivers to find balance and maintain their well-being year-round.
5 Ways You Can Help Combat Caregiver Burnout
National Family Caregivers Month is a great opportunity to make an impact and support caregivers around the world. Here are five ways you can get involved, right now:
1. Follow us on social media and help spread awareness. Throughout November we’ll be sharing caregiver resources and tools designed to help make life a little easier through our social media channels. Follow us now and share at least one post.
2. Submit a My PD Story. Honor the care partner in your life or help others find strength by sharing your story. Read My PD Stories and submit yours today.
3. Explore our Top 10 Essential Caregiver Resources. Navigating Parkinson’s is a life-long process for care partners, but you don’t have to do it alone. We’re here for you with these caregiver resources. Take me to these resources!
4. RSVP for our 2024 Virtual Care Partner Summit. Join us throughout November for virtual care partner events. Listen to care partners and healthcare professionals share their favorite resources and strategies. I’m ready to sign up!
5. Contact our Helpline for personalized resources. Our Helpline specialists can answer your PD questions and provide referrals to PD experts, support groups and exercise classes. Contact us at 1-800-4PD-INFO (1-800-473-4636) or Helpline@Parkinson.org.
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive disease, meaning that it changes over time. Your role as a care partner and your level of involvement will also evolve along the way.
It’s important to define “caregiving” for yourself. Especially early in the Parkinson’s journey, when you might not feel like you are actually “giving” care. Similarly, your loved one might not see himself or herself as someone in need of care. Remember, care is not limited to physical tasks. Care can be emotional and spiritual as well as physical.
Whether you care for someone who is recently diagnosed, adapting to new challenges of PD progression or living with the disease for a long time, a strong support network is essential for your well-being as a care partner and the person with Parkinson’s.
Making sure to take care of yourself can help create a productive partnership that minimizes stress and conflict. Benefits include revitalized energy, renewed interest in creative endeavors, and the realization that you and your partner are not alone.
Early in the Journey
How do I adapt to a diagnosis? What should I expect as the disease progresses? We answer these and more.
Caring for the Care Partner
Learn the signs of caregiver strain and burnout, and how to address them. We also provide advice for balancing work and caregiving.
Caring From Afar
We define the terms primary and secondary care partner, and ways long-distance caregivers can help.
Related Pages:
Getting Outside Help
When is it time to consider outside help? Learn more about where to find help, and how to prepare an outside caregiver.
Planning Ahead
Thinking about the future can be overwhelming. Start here, with these articles about logistical planning, emotional planning, palliative care and advanced care planning.
Advanced Parkinson’s
If your loved one is in the advanced stages of Parkinson’s, we delve into addressing movement and communication challenges, along with activities of daily living.
Practical Pointers
Explore tips for managing day-to-day Parkinson's challenges and ways to help keep your loved one safe at home. Prepare for your loved one's next medical appointment with these tips.
Our Top Care Partner Resources
- Contact our Helpline. Talk to a Helpline specialist at 1-800-4PD-INFO (1-800-473-4636) or helpline@Parkinson.org for up-to-date information about Parkinson’s, referrals to care professionals, local resources and more.
- Connect with your local Parkinson’s Foundation Chapter. Find your local Chapter for nearby programs, support groups, and events, such as Moving Day, A Walk for Parkinson’s, and join us in raising PD awareness and funds.
- Attend free care partner courses. Our Care Partner Program: Building a Care Partnership offers a series of self-paced online courses that feature conversations with care partners, lessons from health professionals and more.
Related Materials
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5 Care Partner Tips for Managing Mid-Stride Parkinson’s Symptoms
Staying Healthy as a Care Partner
Male Care Partners Share Their Top Lessons Learned
Join the Fight Against Parkinson's
Support ground-breaking research, care and community outreach