Caregivers of chronically ill friends or family members are the unsung heroes that work so hard, often unseen and unrecognized, to ensure their loved-one’s daily needs are met and they are living their best possible life. But too often the stress of being a caregiver leads to a decline in one’s own overall health and well being.
September 19, 2016 will mark the first National Parkinson’s Foundation Caregiver Summit which will bring more than 100 caregivers from around the United States and the world together. The Summit will address the needs of PD caregivers and offer resources to help them care for the individual with PD as well as themselves.
Parkinson’s is a progressive neurological disorder that affects nearly one million people in the U.S. and more than 10 million worldwide. It is the most common neurodegenerative disease following Alzheimer’s and the 14th leading cause of death in America. The average age of PD onset is 60 years and the risk increases significantly with advanced age. Between 5 and 10 per cent of people with Parkinson’s have “early onset” of the disease in which symptoms start appearing before the age of 50.
The upcoming caregiver summit will be held the day before the World Parkinson Congress in Portland, OR. To learn more about the event or to register for the free webcast visit www.parkinson.org/summit or call the NPF Helpline at 1-800-4PD-INFO (473-4636).
Although there is no cure today for Parkinson’s disease, promising research and treatments are improving the lives of those with PD. To learn more about caring for someone with Parkinson’s while also taking care of yourself, visit the National Parkinson Foundation for a comprehensive guide for caregivers: Caring and Coping.
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