Parkinson Social NetworkDon’t Fall For It!
This morning I was thinking about falls. Not the autumn/season kind, but the kind where you can land on the ground, badly hurt. As many of you know, I teach an aquatic class for Parkinson people and their care partners. It’s called Flamingos in Training because much of what we do is working on improving our balance. With the cold weather upon us and the potential for having to negotiate slippery surfaces I want to share some simple tips to help you stay on your feet this winter and out of the hospital.
Wear shoes that fit properly on your feet. Check that laces are tied, and there are no loose ends for you to trip on. Soles made of non-slip rubber or neoprene, grooved for walking on snow or ice, are best.- Beware dark patches on pavement that look wet. They can also be icy and slippery.
- Look for a path with the most traction. Sometimes it’s safer to walk on grass, dirt or snow than on the pavement.
- Keep your hands out of your pockets. If your hands are cold, wear gloves or mittens.
Walk Like a Penguin
I share this with my aquatic class every winter. When you’re walking on slippery surfaces it’s the one time you DON’T want to take BIG steps. We practice walking like a penguin in the pool. Sounds funny, I know, but the water holds us upright so it’s a safe way to practice.
Walk With Intent
I really like how the Parkinson Voice Project teaches people to speak with intent, or to put it another way . . .
Think about what you’re going to say and how you’re going to say it.
So my version is to walk with intent . . .
Think about where you need to go and how you’re going to get there.
Speaking of Getting Out & About and Winter . . .
We have two cafes next week! Join in for some holiday fun by wearing your favorite holiday attire. At our Cafe Fairfax on Wednesday, our visitor will be Courtney Arroyo from the Fairfax County Office of Emergency Management to talk about emergency preparedness. Courtney is in charge of outreach to people with disabilities and other vulnerable communities She has a presentation that integrates all county services related to safety and emergency preparedness, and will bring us some printed material to help us be prepared.
Hoping to see you out and about soon! Will we see you at our cafes in Fairfax and Alexandria next week?
Cheers,
Sonia
email: Sonia@ParkinsonSocialNetwork.org
Coffee, Donuts and Friends
Do You Know Someone Who is “In Denial”?
This week I heard about a couple of people, diagnosed with Parkinson’s, who were described as being “in denial”. I often hear this from concerned friends and family members. Given some of the horror stories I hear about how some patients are given their diagnosis, I’m not surprised. Still, I’m always sad to hear about people who are isolating themselves and missing out on a rich source of support and friendship – other people in our Parkinson community.
Donuts do, too!
We started our cafes so people would have a place to go and just relax with others because we recognize that the thought of attending a support group can often be intimidating. I know walking alone into a strange place where I don’t know anyone doesn’t excite me at the best of times. People who come to our cafes understand what living with Parkinson’s is like, and they are caring and welcoming. Although Parkinson’s is what brings us together, we mostly talk about lifestyle things. Patients are people, too, so while you’ll meet other patients at our cafes, the focus is on us as people.
If you know someone who is living with Parkinson’s and in denial, alone at home, please invite them to come to one of our cafes. Family and friends are welcome to come along, too. Let’s help the Parkinson people we know who are in denial to feel empowered about making the most of their life with Parkinson’s.
Did George HW Bush have Parkinson’s?
With the passing of former president George HW Bush people are asking about vascular parkinsonism – what is it, and how is it compared to Parkinson’s? Parkinson’s Life has a good explanation. Click here to read about the differences between the two conditions.
Emergency Preparedness
At our Cafe Fairfax on December 19, Courtney Arroyo from the Fairfax County Office of Emergency Management is coming to speak to us about Emergency Preparedness. We last talked about this back in January 2017 and I created a page on our website to record all the things we learned from each other. Check out our Preparing for an Emergency page. I hope to add to it after Courtney’s visit. In the meantime, I just learned about another handy resource from Fairfax County – their Guide to Snow. Click here to read all about it!
Hoping to see you out and about soon!
Cheers,
Sonia
email: Sonia@ParkinsonSocialNetwork.org
Parkinson Social Network 