Care partners have an essential role in helping to make life better for people with Parkinson’s disease (PD), and the Parkinson’s Foundation recognizes that taking care of the care partner enables them to be at their best. The 2021 Care Partner Summit | Cumbre Para Cuidadores is recommended for anyone caring for someone living with PD. It will be held online on several days in May in English with Spanish translations available two weeks later. Beginning in June, a set of self-paced online courses will offer videos, journal prompts, and opportunities to connect with care partners around the world about topics of importance so that care partners can better understand their role in managing their loved one's care, create actionable strategies for self-care, develop clear networks for support, and access relevant tools that will empower them in their role as a care partner.

 

In this podcast, care partner Marlene Perdan relates her journey with her husband, Bill, who received a PD diagnosis at age 51. She tells about her initial shock and fears and how she came to terms with the disease, and about their journey together, using information and knowledge to help them deal with changing situations. Marlene has been involved with the PD community and serves on the committee for the Care Partner Summit.