For Care Partners & Family

If someone you love has Parkinson’s, this page is for you. Care partners carry a lot, often quietly. Your wellbeing matters too.

You don’t have to know everything

Nobody does. Learn as things come up, and lean on people who’ve been where you are. The Northside Caregivers Circle meets twice a month, in the evening, specifically for care partners.

Practical things that help

• Go to appointments together when you can; two sets of ears catch more
• Keep a shared notebook (or phone note) of symptoms, questions, and medication times
• Learn about “off” times: when medication wears off, patience helps more than hurrying
• Accept specific offers of help: “Tuesday rides to the gym” beats “call me if you need anything”

Watch for your own burnout

Warning signs: constant tiredness, irritability, dropping the things you used to enjoy. These are signals, not failures. Respite options, even a few hours a week, keep caregiving sustainable. Ask at a Circle meeting where members find theirs.

You can’t pour from an empty cup. Taking care of yourself is taking care of them.