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Continue reading →: Preparing to Live With LimitationsAs an early-stage Parkinson’s patient, I can still drive, and I’ve made a point of getting out of the house almost every single day. A recent minor illness, and a visit with my elderly mom, reminded me that I’ve taken that ability for granted. How can we prepare for the day when our world begins…
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Continue reading →: We Can Do More Than We ThinkOn days when Parkinson’s seems to be too much, it might help to review the life of Paul Alexander — who lived a life of meaning and purpose while confined to an iron lung.
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Continue reading →: Preparing for an Emergency With Parkinson’sThe devastation in North Carolina and Los Angeles is a wake-up call for many — 44% of us have done nothing to prepare for an emergency. Households with Parkinson’s need to go further than the average American to be prepared. Here are some tips to make sure you’re ready.
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Continue reading →: What Are We Gonna Do About Alcohol?There’s been a recent spate of concerning clinical studies and recommendations about alcohol. Sometimes they contradict each other. It’s left to us to wade through the noise and make our own decisions based on imperfect and incomplete information. Here’s how one PWP (spoiler alert — it’s me!) is dealing with it.
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Continue reading →: I’m a Multitaskin’ FoolParkinson’s can slowly rob us of our ability to handle two tasks at once. My exercise regimen includes drills to try to preserve that ability. In real life, I do what I can to focus on one task at a time.
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Continue reading →: Christmas BonusNo pesky “Parkinson’s” content this week, just the videos. You don’t have to eat your vegetables — it’s all dessert.
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Continue reading →: ParkiBot — A Powerful New FREE AI-Driven Research ToolWe have questions. Lots of questions. Finding answers on the internet is a bit of a crapshoot. Google can offer links to a bunch of websites, but we’re on our own sorting them out. We can search individual websites such as the Michael J. Fox or Parkinson’s Foundations — helpful, but they may not have…
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Continue reading →: Stopping the Dementia TrainFor people with Parkinson’s, the odds of getting dementia increase the longer we live — according to some experts, 70% of us will have it as part of the disease progression. I’ve got some family history that doesn’t help my chances of avoiding it. Is there a way of getting more favorable odds? Maybe. Here’s…
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Continue reading →: Keeping a Hobby Accessible for Your Person With Parkinson’sIf the person with Parkinson’s in your life has a hobby, participatig in that activity may become more difficult as the disease progresses. Here are some strategies for helping them do what they love for years to come.
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Continue reading →: What Do We Do With “Parkie?”Political consultant and wordsmith Frank Luntz wrote, “It’s not what you say, it’s what people hear.” For people with Parkinson’s and their loved ones, “Parkie” can be heard many ways. I recently grappled with the word and what it meant to one of my readers. Here’s what I’ve concluded.
Hello,
I’m Phil Bernstein
I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease on May 25, 2023. At the time, I was only vaguely aware of Parkinson’s — primarily from articles in People about Michael J. Fox. And I didn’t know anyone with the disease.
Now, I know a lot more about the illness, and I’ve joined the Parkinson’s community in my hometown of Portland, Oregon.
I’ve found that writing helps me think through challenges, and this illness definitely qualifies as a challenge. I’ve started Shakin’ Street to help me think through the various obstacles, tools, and resources that a newly-diagnosed Parkinson’s patient encounters along the way.
I hope some of these posts help you address and tackle your own challenges.
Shakin' Street -- A Parkinson's Blog 