Thank you to those who attended last week’s meeting. We appreciate the shared personal tips and experiences, discussing assistive devices, and helpful tools for daily living. The group also touched on exercise programs, medication management, communicating with your healthcare providers, and the importance of support networks for individuals with Parkinson’s.

Due to the personal nature of the discussion, this session was not recorded. However, we did take notes of suggestions that were offered:

• Urban Poling Walking Poles – Instructions for use on website.
• Crazy Aaron’s Thinking Putty – to improve hand strength, dexterity, and reduce stress.
• Floor Mat with an alarm to place next to bed.
• Tie string of bells to the door handles to alert the door being opened.
• Cane pad for cane handle
• Balloon covering cane handle – – helps with identification, grip, and less slippery. 9” balloons to go over cane handle.
• Wide base cane tip – makes cane stand up instead of having to pick up from floor – be careful with stairs since wide base may snag the stair.
• Collapsible cane – be careful with stairs.
• Consult a physical or occupational therapist on using assistive devices like canes or walking sticks.
• Electric wheelchair or scooter.
• Standing walker – Up Walker
• Consider exploring Apple Air Tags or Android equivalents for tracking important items.
• Rock Steady Boxing – https://rocksteadyboxing.org/find-a-location/
• Explore car assistance devices like: Auto Cane Grab Handle, Adjustable Standing Aid, Portable Vehicle Support Grab Bar Nylon Grip and swivel cushions for easier car entry/exit.
• Wear a whistle for loved ones to alert you to when they need help.
• Stretch while in bed in the morning before you get up. It’s a safe way to wake your body up in the morning and may help with walking.
• Condom catheter to wear to avoid trips to the bathroom during the night and reduce falls.
• Adult shirt protector/bib that looks like a shirt and has a crumb catcher.
• Tennis ball to make handles easier to grip.
• Weighted silverware or adaptive silverware to aid in eating.
• Consider electric toothbrushes and water picks for better dental care.
• Carry tote bag with cushion or pillow for seating at restaurant. Ask staff for a pillow – they may have one.
• Consider replacing round doorknobs with straight handles for easier grip and opening.
• Motion sensor for bathroom lighting or under cabinet lighting.
• Look into rechargeable camping lights for additional lighting needs which are portable and can be used when traveling. Even a headlamp may be helpful.
• Motion sensor night light
• Dude wipes – big packs and individually wrapped for messes.
• Research Biofreeze products and Lidocaine patches for pain.
• Look into Yeti cups for maintaining drink temperature and easier grip.
• Non-slip jar opener pads to reduce sliding of cups/glasses.
• Purchase multiple reacher grabbers to have one in every room for accessibility.
• Use your physician’s online portal or texting the doctor’s office as ways to communicate with your health care provider.
• Medical Alert non-profit foundation: Medical IDs for easier access to medical information for person with Parkinson’s and caregiver in case they are incapacitated.
• Digital health and medical records.
• Spreadsheet with drug/RX/OTC info for both the person with Parkinson’s and the carepartner.
• Preparing for and preventing medical emergencies – Recorded presentation/ on YouTube.
• Review and update your medication/supplement lists to include over-the-counter items, vitamins/supplements, and share with your healthcare providers.
• Ask your pharmacist – drug interactions, help with new medications, OTC contraindications – mail order and in person.
• UpEnding Parkinson’s Rock climbing: https://www.upendingparkinsons.org/
• Free Virtual and in person speech therapy through Shenandoah University. For more information, contact Myra Schatzki, Director of Clinical Education, at myra.schatzki@su.edu or 540-665-4634. 
  • Free virtual speech therapy for those in Virginia and Washington DC.
  • Daily online SPEAKOUT® voice practices from the Parkinson Voice Project https://parkinsonvoiceproject.org/program/parkinsons-speech-exercises/
• Parkinson Social Network YouTube channel – recordings of previous programs and speakers: https://www.youtube.com/@parkinsonsocialnetwork

This list is a combination of suggestions from the community, not an endorsement.