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Resources for self-managing your Parkinson's during the COVID-19 outbreak

The information on this page is intended to be used for general information only, and should not replace consultation with healthcare professionals. Please speak with a qualified healthcare professional before making medical decisions.

For urgent medical advice, please contact your family doctor, or speak to a nurse at HealthLink BC by dialling 8-1-1. In the event of an emergency, call 9-1-1.

Parkinson Society British Columbia is committed to serving our community during the COVID-19 outbreak. Although many of our education events have been cancelled or postponed, we will continue to provide support through online webinars and resources.

Below is a list of existing resources to support you in managing your Parkinson’s disease, or caring for a loved one, while social distancing measures are in effect.

For a complete list of our resources, click here.

Staying healthy during the outbreak

Though you might not be able to travel to the gym, appointments, or your favourite healthy restaurant, taking care of your physical health will help you self-manage and reduce stress.

Maintaining your mental wellbeing

During this period of social distancing, it is important to maintain your mental health and wellbeing by practicing healthy coping strategies and stress management. 

For more mental health tips and resources, please visit this page.

Working with healthcare providers

Some healthcare providers may transition to a Telehealth-first approach to appointments, or prioritize patients with acute conditions. Reviewing best practices for interacting with healthcare providers could help make your experience as smooth and effective as possible.

 

Support for carepartners

As a carepartner, it is important to maintain your own personal health and wellbeing so that you can continue to provide support and care to your loved one living with Parkinson's.

Upcoming webinars

Parkinson Society BC will continue to develop and host online webinars and learning opportunities through the COVID-19 outbreak. All upcoming webinars can be viewed on our events page.

Online support groups

Young Onset Parkinson's Disease (YOPD)
Parkinson Society British Columbia is offering an online YOPD support group. This group is meant for individuals diagnosed with Parkinson's under the age of 60. 

A valid internet connection will be required to participate.

2nd Tuesday of each month
7:00 pm – 8:30 pm

Register Now

Parkinson's Disease Support Group
 In an effort to practice social distancing during the COVID-19 outbreak, many support groups have cancelled meetings until further notice. As a substitute, we have started a new weekly online support group for the Parkinson’s community to help stay connected and support each other during this time. Please note this group will communicate via chat (typing).

A valid internet connection will be required to participate.

Weekly on Fridays
9:00 am – 10:30 am

Register Now

Early to Mid-Stage Parkinson's Carepartner Support Group
This monthly online support group is geared for individuals caring for someone with early to mid-stage Parkinson's disease. Whether you are a spouse, partner, adult child, or friend, Parkinson Society British Columbia invites you to join our growing online community of support.

If your Person with PD (PwP) is dealing with any of the following symptoms you would be more appropriate to register for the Advanced PD Carepartner Support Group:
  • Urinary or bowel problems
  • Swallowing or communication problems
  • Dementia or moderate to severe cognitive impairment
  • Needing physical assistance to mobilize
  • General inability to care for themselves

A valid internet connection will be required to participate.

3rd Wednesday of each month 
9:00 am – 10:30 am

Register Now

Advanced Parkinson's Carepartner Support Group
This new monthly online support group is designed for individuals caring for someone with advanced Parkinson's disease, which can be characterized by complex medical needs and/or changes in cognition that require help in almost all areas of daily life.

Whether you are a spouse, partner, adult child, or friend, Parkinson Society British Columbia invites you to join our growing online community fostering connection with others who share similar experiences.

A valid internet connection will be required to participate.

4th Thursday of each month
1:00 pm – 2:30 pm

Register Now

External Resources

Organizations across Canada and the world are mobilizing to create resources to support people with Parkinson's during the coronavirus outbreak. Here are a few of our suggested resources:

 Exercise Resources

  • RockSteady Boxing Home Exercises: Rock Steady Boxing, is a nonprofit that improves the quality of life for people with Parkinson's through a non-contact boxing based fitness. They are publishing workouts online. Join their free live online exercise classes on Zoom every Tuesday and Thursday at 5:30pm and Saturday at 10:00am
  • Dance for PD Live Classes and Archives: Dance for PD has an archive of video dance classes and are hosting live video dance classes through their website.
  • Mindfulness and Gentle Chair Yoga: Kate Landreth, Education & Learning Lead at Family Caregivers of BC, offers a mindfulness practice and seated yoga movement practice. Follow along from the comfort of your home. 
  • Daily Dose PD: Subscribe for online workouts designed specifically for people with PD. They have a collection of past workouts and wekkly livestreamed workouts. You can Daily Dose PD free for 30 days. You can also view some of their videos for free on YouTube.
  • PD On The Move: has an online library of free exercise courses built specifically for people with Parkinson's disease.
  • Power for Parkinsons: Power for Parkinson's is a non-profit organization that offers free Parkinson's exercise, dance and vocal classes which can be watched on their YouTube channel.
  • Parkinson Voice Project and their 'SPEAK OUT!' program offers  practice videos for speech-language therapy. You can find their Facebook Live Practice sessions to complete their daily exercises in your own home!
  • Brain & Body Fitness: The Parkgate Community Services Society’s Dementia Services have shared several online exercise videos for people living with different stages of dementia. You can watch the videos on their website.
  • Fitness Fridays: As part of the Parkinson’s Foundation’s PD Health @ Home program, they are offering a free 10-part video series. The videos will be released every Friday from April 10 to June 12 and will focus on one aspect of fitness designed to support people living with Parkinson’s. The series is created and taught by Parkinson’s expert and Doctor of Physical Therapy, Joellyn Fox. You can watch the videos on their website.

Mental Health Resources

  • Music Therapy Classes: You can join a live stream music therapy class every Friday at 5:30am PST on Facebook and led by Registered Musical Therapist, Renée White. These video classes are available after they are streamed on the Facebook Group. This service is offered by Parkinson Society Newfoundland & Labrador.
  • Maintaining Intimacy During the Coronavirus: World Parkinson Congress’s blog has published a series of posts about maintaining intimacy and sexuality with loved ones during the pandemic. You can read the post on their blog.
  • Mental Health and Wellness: The Government of Canada has put together a webpage of resources and information about mental health and wellness on their website.
  • Social Isolation Q&A: watch a video Q&A with Home Instead Senior Care’s Gerontologist & Caregiver Advocate Lakelyn Hogan, and Molly Carpenter, their Director of Business and Academic Research. Older adults are at a higher risk of isolation and loneliness and it has been that way long before COVID-19 disrupted daily life. It is important for family caregivers to better understand the significant implications of isolation and loneliness. Home Instead Senior Care is a provider of personalized in-home care services with over 1,100 independently owned and operated franchise offices worldwide. You can watch the Q&A on their Facebook page.
  • Maintaining Mental Health During the COVID-19 Crisis: Dr. Rebecca Gilbert, the Vice President and Chief Scientific Offer of the American Parkinson Disease Association, discusses potential causes of increased stress, as well as ways to manage stress in this blog post. You can read the article on their website.

Healthcare Resources

Carepartner Resources

  • Caregivers Out Loud: The Family Caregivers of BC is starting a new podcast series aimed to provide an avenue of awareness, education, and support for caregivers and health care providers. Each episode discusses several themes of caregiver wellness, such as self-care, relationships, and support networks! Access to these podcasts is available through Spotify, Apple, and Stitcher.

Legal Resources

Do you have ideas about new topics we should cover? Send suggestions to:

Mirela Prime
Marketing & Communications Coordinator
mprime@parkinson.bc.ca