A few notes on falling

Back when I was first diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease, I had a fear of falling. There were two things I especially did not relish about the idea that it would become a part of my modern lifestyle. #1 was pain, and the possibility of a fall leading to broken bones, leading to becoming bedridden, leading to bedsores, leading to infection, leading to death. #2 The fact that, back then (17 years ago!) there was nothing I could find known to improve falling. As a person with Parkinson's, you were just doomed to fall. Get used to it.

This was very frustrating, and horribly demoralizing. And we now know, not true. Yes, you will fall more if you have PD, but there are now activities that can improve your balance, stopping falls before they happen. I did a two-part infocomic on this topic, you can find the first part here, and the second here. Walk tall, don't fall. That's all.

March 18th Support Group Meeting, Preventing falls

We're going to meet the heck out of this week's meeting. You ask "What's on the agenda, Pete? Or is this going to be another of your last-minute improvisations, like the time you led a two-hour discussion of the topic 'Pachyderms and Parkinson's, a tragedy not waiting to happen'"?

Well, glad you asked. We will have a roughly 30 minute presentation on falls and their prevention. This is a topic of critical interest, as falls can lead to drastic impairment and even death from complications for people with Parkinson's. So you have a simple choice: Come to the meeting or face a journey into the great beyond.

No pressure.

See you there, the usual time and place, 3:30 Saturday (the 18th) in the upper reaches of the Anchorage Pioneer Home, the 5th floor West lounge.

Best,

Pete

Doing My Bit For Parkinon's Disease Awareness Month