Parkinson’s is the second most commonly diagnosed neurological disease after Alzheimer’s.* Although awareness is growing, there is still an urgent need to educate medical and allied health professionals, as well as the general community, about life with Parkinson’s, and how they can help improve the quality of life for those living with the disease.

The World Parkinson Congress in 2016 featured sessions on Interdisciplinary Teams. The list of suggestions (below) for who could be on your team may look pretty daunting, and the thought of appointments with all these people might seem overwhelming. You probably wouldn’t need to see all of them all at the same time, but it’s good to know the variety of professionals available in your community to help you live your best life with Parkinson’s.

Who Could be on the Team?

• #1 is your primary caregiver – most often a family member.
• Neurologist
• Primary care doctor / geriatrician (MD/NP/PA)
• Physical / occupational / speech therapists / dietician
• Nurse (coordinator and manager)
• Pastoral / spiritual care
• Psychiatry / psychology
• Rehab doctor
• Social worker
• Therapists – yoga, music, meditation, art
• Professional caregivers (home care aides, nurses)

* From ParkinsonsDisease.net
How Common is Parkinson’s Disease?