Beyond Parkinson's

03/31/2023

If you have worked with me, then you have done a version of this!

https://www.facebook.com/reel/628278659133043?mibextid=0NULKw&fs=e&s=TIeQ9V

03/27/2023

Words like these make it all worthwhile :)

03/25/2023

Biggest event of the year! 10th Parkinson’s awareness walk.

03/18/2023

At the Active after 50 Expo! Seeing a lot of familiar faces too 😊
Also, if you know someone who has hearing difficulties, I met someone who can provide captioned telephone at no charge. Let me know if you know someone in need!

03/17/2023

A bit of light reading for this Friday afternoon!

03/14/2023

Parkinson's disease (PD) and Dual Tasking

Why is it so hard for individuals with PD to have a conversation and walk without a few stumbles? Why is it that they can walk perfectly fine in their house, but walking in through grocery store isles and filling up the cart so much more challenging?

The answer lies in dual-tasking. Think of our attention span as a set of batteries. The more we use, the more they get drained. Individuals with PD have lower attentions spans and lower ability to retain/ process large amounts of information. So, when a person with PD engages in tasks that require simultaneous ex*****on of more than 1-2 things, it visibly slows them down.

So how do we help? We systematically challenge your attention and problem solving system starting with easiest tasks and then make them progressively challenging. Here are a few examples of dual-task challenges I present to my clients when working on their balance.
- Counting backwards
- Naming all 50 states (in any order)
- Subtracting 7 from 100 and then keep going, the worst one if you have tried it ;)
- Sing their favorite song
- Just talk (sometimes that itself is challenging)

Word of caution, my clients perform these in a safe-secure environment where I can support them- so please don't attempt these on your own.

Now, what can you do on your own?
- Slow down, if walking and talking gets you distracted, finish the conversation and then walk
- Remove distractions in your environment (For example cluttered spaces)
- If you do get distracted, take a moment to regroup, examine your environment (for example- see if there is anything on the floor that can trip you up)
- Anticipate and prepare. If you know that you will be going to a grocery store during busy hours, make sure you have your walker with you. If you will be going to a busy restaurant, have someone nearby at all times- just in case.

Do you struggle with dual-tasking? Give us a call at (904) 778- 5157 and let's explore how we can help you out.
Website:

Welcome! Welcome to Beyond Parkinson's! We are on a mission to improve quality of life for patients with Parkinson's disease. Your life is more than just the diagnosis you've been given. You deserve to be a part of everything that is meaningful to you- be it cooking your favorite dish, bowling

03/09/2023

Life of a therapist! Had a bit of a slow morning, then some visits, calling up vendors to get insurance clarification and now documenting treatments for billing. Love that I wear so many hats in the same day!

03/06/2023

Parkinson's disease (PD) and fatigue

Parkinson's foundation states that about half the individuals with PD experience fatigue and at least 1/3rd of them report it to be one of the most disabling problems.

I worked with a client this morning who experienced a lot of fatigue after getting a break from therapy over the weekend. Here are some things we discussed-
- Fatigue is very common in PD. But its necessary to move. Perhaps not the same way you would if you felt full of energy, but we still move. So we performed some basic stretches as a warm up
- Lack of sleep or disturbed sleep can cause fatigue. So, during the day time, its okay to take a short nap (as long as its not too close to your bedtime). No blue light exposure after 7 pm, drink green tea or play soft music before bedtime that can add to quality of your sleep
-Medications taken on time. This is a big one- taking your medications on time will help you maintain the levels of Carbidopa in your blood stream
-Find other methods for relaxation that work for you. Examples include meditation, chair yoga, journal, painting, doing puzzles and reading.
-Last, although it wasn't the case for my client, sometimes nutritional deficiencies can also cause fatigue, so talk to your doctor and get your levels of iron, Vitamin B 12 and D etc checked out.

Not all days can be good days, and that's okay! What matters is that you are still moving to the best of your capacity, and taking care of your mind.

If you have a loved one with Parkinson's disease, please share this information with them. Even better, let them know about our services, and we can help them out.
Website: www.beyondparkinsons.com
Phone: (904) 778-5157

Welcome! Welcome to Beyond Parkinson's! We are on a mission to improve quality of life for patients with Parkinson's disease. Your life is more than just the diagnosis you've been given. You deserve to be a part of everything that is meaningful to you- be it cooking your favorite dish, bowling

02/15/2023

What are motor fluctuations?
Motor fluctuations are simply your body not responding to Parkinson's medications the same way as it did in the past. This is a common phenomena in Parkinson's disease as it progresses and also known as on-off phenomena.

Check out this image showcasing progression of the disease and occurrence of motor fluctuations (note: Image created for demonstration purpose only, without utilizing factual data).

Stay tuned for additional information in the coming weeks. Also, if you or your loved one are experiencing these motor fluctuations, feel free to reach out at 904-778-5157

www.beyondparkinsons.com

02/04/2023

Come say hello if you’re here!

02/03/2023

Hope to see you tomorrow! If you can’t attend in person, the zoom link is now available.

Caregivers are often overlooked when dealing with a disease or sickness. Tomorrow we focus on them!

The event is sold out for in person attendance. We have opened up Zoom capability due to high demand. Please contact Lexi@jaxhopeinc.org for that information.

JAX HOPE INC.
First Coast Parkinson's Run