Hi, it’s Larry. I’m 49 and I have Parkinson’s disease. This episode of When Life Gives You Parkinson’s is about managing falls. It is winter and where we live snow and ice and black ice and freezing rain are all hazards, which increase everyone’s chances of falling. People with Parkinson’s are more prone to slipping and stumbling, skidding and tumbling to the ground. So, we should talk about it. I didn’t consider it a topic I’d need to know much about until I get much older. I was wrong. One reason we're doing this episode is because over the holidays I had four falls.  

I am on the mend with help from NeuroFit BC’s Naomi Casiro. Rebecca and I talk with Physiotherapist Nicole Ascera, PhD. She’s a clinical specialist in neurosciences and wrote the Parkinson Canada Guide on Preventing Falls. I also meet the creator of the ACTIVATOR Poles by Urban Poling, Mandy Shintani. These are great tools especially for gait, balance and confidence issues.

Through the episode, Rebecca and I realize we have a lot to do to prepare mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually for the next fall. And the fall after that one. And the one after that one.

Thank you for listening. Add your voice to the show and leave a message for us here; https://www.speakpipe.com/WhenLifeGivesYouParkinsons

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Thank you to the following people featured in this episode:

Naomi Casiro (Founder/ Registered Physiotherapist) BSc. (Kin), MPT, Certified PWR! https://www.neurofitbc.com/

Nicole Acerra, PhD Nicole Acerra, PhD, is a physiotherapist with a passion for neurological and vestibular rehabilitation. She is one of the authors of the Parkinson Canada’s Preventing Falls Guide

Mandy Shintani OT & Gerontologist, Developer ACTIVATOR Poles & Founder Urban Poling Inc. Learn more about how Activator poles work with PwP at an upcoming free webinar. Register today! The webinar is on Wed April 28 at 7 pm EST/4 pm PST https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_QDm5AfunTZyUmW2yCccU5A

Diagnosed with Parkinson’s? You are not alone. Contact presenting partner Parkinson Canada http://www.parkinson.ca/, call the toll free hotline 1-800-565-3000 or on Twitter you can message @ParkinsonCanada.

Here is a link to the Parkinson’s Canada Preventing Falls Guide.

Thanks also to our content and promotional partners

The Michael J. Fox Foundation Parkinson’s Podcast hosted by Larry Gifford

Spotlight YOPD – The only Parkinson’s organization dedicated to raising awareness for Young Onset Parkinson’s disease and funds for the Cure Parkinson’s Trust. 

PD Avengers - United to end Parkinson’s. Join us.World Parkinson Congress 2022 –Make plans to join us for #WPC2022 in Barcelona, Spain

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