November and December is a time for family, friends and loved ones to gather and celebrate the holiday season. This involves many unique and exciting activities such as traveling, parties, attending events and more. However, when you are living with Parkinson’s disease (PD), some of those activities can often become more challenging due to motor changes (such as difficulties walking or slowness of movement) or the non-motor symptoms (such as fatigue, anxiety and urinary/bowel changes) of the disease.
In order to ensure that you experience the most enjoyable holiday season, many PD experts have compiled a list of recommendations to keep in mind.
- Keep up with regular exercise schedule
- Use the Fitness Fridays or your local organization’s virtual resources to maintain your regular exercise while traveling.
- Meet with your rehabilitation team to obtain a virtual exercise program for your travel.
- Plan ahead
- Allow extra time for transitions, your morning routine, eating, etc. to allow for you to feel comfortable and not rushed throughout your holiday events.
- If traveling, make sure you bring your Aware in Care Kit in case of emergencies
- Bring extra medication in case of emergencies or delays with traveling
- Stay well rested
- Maintain a regular sleep schedule
- Take scheduled rest breaks throughout the day
- If traveling, stay safe by keeping up-to-date with the CDC recommendations for Coronavirus travel
- Maintain a healthy PD nutrition plan when possible
The Fixel Institute wishes you a wonderful holiday season, and hope that these resources provide you with the tools needed to have an incredible time with your loved ones.
Additional Resources
Webinar
Navigating the Holidays When Your Loved One Has PD
Being a caregiver for a loved one with Parkinson’s can be challenging on a daily basis, but during the busyness, and extra demands of the holidays, many caregivers become overwhelmed physically and emotionally. This program will explore this topic and discuss tools and strategies for navigating the holiday season.
Parkinson’s UK
Holiday Checklist
Lots of people with Parkinson’s travel. The condition shouldn’t stop you enjoying trips. You may just need to do some extra planning to make sure your holiday runs smoothly.
There can be a lot of think about when you are planning a holiday with Parkinson’s. This holiday checklist can help you to prepare for your trip.
Ask the Doctor
Holiday and Parkinson’s
The holidays can be fun, but they can also be stressful. For those with Parkinson’s disease, that stress can worsen symptoms. If you are traveling, shopping or visiting family, it can be challenging to fit in self-care. But that’s when it’s most important. A few tips from the MJFXX for people with Parkinson’s during the holidays are shared below.
Parkinson’s Community Los Angeles
7 Tips for Getting Through the Holidays with Parkinson’s
Living with Parkinson’s disease shouldn’t mean missing out on holiday family celebrations or spending time with cherished friends. Proper self-care and preparation can help you avoid stress and anxiety while truly enjoying the holiday season.
Blog
10 Tips to Embrace This Holiday Season
The Davis Phinney Foundation compiles this list of 10 tips for how to embrace living with young-onset PD during the holiday season.
Blog
20 Friendly Parkinson’s Gifts
Not sure what to get your loved one with Parkinson’s disease (PD) for an upcoming holiday or birthday? Not sure where to start your PD-friendly shopping? Let the Parkinson’s Foundation help you with some gift ideas.