I don’t want to see other people with Parkinson’s(PwP)
Some people feel they do not want to see other people with more advanced symptoms so it may be worth asking if they are ready to meet other PwP? It is worth exploring their worries. Some experiences quoted:
“Sometimes it’s encouraging to me because, this is probably gonna sound selfish or something, but I’m still able to do more than a lot of the other people in the class and so that makes me feel good”
“Physical [benefits] was one reason [for joining]. But it was also really delightful to have this group of acquaintances who we could talk with each other about Parkinson’s and about medication and about the things that we experience. Some of those things are even harder to describe to people who don’t have Parkinson’s. So it was very, very meaningful, socially, to come to [the program] and be a part of that group and get to know people. Very socially important. Now I really felt support at [the program] with, with the fellow boxers who had Parkinson’s…I had been very secretive about having Parkinson’s, and coming in here, it was all open, it was all on the table. And that was a nice change, that we could talk about it openly. I could see other people, I could evaluate their condition, their status. I could see people worse than me, I could see people better than me. A real, real learning experience. Very informative.”
You can discuss that every case is different and activities should be tailored to their capabilities and their needs but may be worth considering seeing a professional with specialist knowledge to advise them further
Tips you may wish to share
Activities can be done in a variety of settings, work out what works best for you:
• Alone
• Outside/inside
• With a buddy/in a class
Some people find hearing how activity has made a difference to other people with the same condition motivational.