As an occupational therapist, I work with people with Parkinson's disease in their homes to help them manage their daily lives in the best way possible. Each patient has unique activities they want to continue doing, like cooking or gardening, which can become difficult with the disease. That's where we work together to identify areas of difficulty and create personalised strategies and exercises that can help improve their quality of life.
My interest in working with Parkinson's patients began while working in geriatrics. After seeing people with Parkinson's struggle with daily activities, I pursued further training through ParkinsonNet. Here I discovered many new ways of helping people with the disease and learned how important it is to be in the patient's home environment. Only this allows me to understand the particular challenges that they face in their daily life.
Seeing the positive impact that occupational therapy can have on people living with Parkinson's is truly rewarding. By working together to find new ways of doing things and empowering them with strategies to manage their symptoms, I have seen patients regain their confidence, independence, and control over their lives. It's an honour to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.