Well, it seems I didn’t do a post yesterday, I forgot about it. Anyway, here we are at Friday and that of course means a bit more about Parkinson’s Disease.
As the disease progresses those of us with it must learn how to adapt and adjust to the new challenges in our everyday life.
If one finds themselves shuffling and not lifting their feet when walking, they need to think about not having small rugs which could cause them to trip and fall. If you have bare floorboards and like to wear socks around the house without shoes you need to really be wearing grip socks, so you don’t slip over.
At some point one may find buttons hard to manage thus needing to change to something that doesn’t involve buttons unless there is someone to help with the buttons. I do not wear anything that needs to be buttoned up.
Shoelaces can be a real challenge and one may find at some point they will need to change to either slip on shoes or ones with Velcro. The shoes I wear have Velcro.
Getting up from a low chair is next to impossible this I discovered after the tree came through the roof and I had to go to Jessica’s house, her lounge was too low, and I had a lot of trouble getting up from it, I solved the problem by using my wheelchair.
These are photos of my armchair including the remote and in a raised position.
My armchair is a lift chair although I don’t need the lift option at this stage I may do in the future, I find that not having to use my legs to lower the footrest and kick it into place better, the lift chair has a button that raises and lowers the footrest.
Yes these are photos of my bathroom, you will notice the towels over the handrails, these we need to mop up the floor as the drain is only so so. The pink towel is mine and it is over my shower chair which is a chair with handrails and a back.
Another problem is many toilets are too low and both sitting on and getting up from it is a real struggle, this I had to deal with our first few days in emergency accommodation. The toilet we have here is a disabled toilet which means it is higher and I have handrails to hold onto when sitting and standing.
Many people have a problem getting out of bed or turning over in bed, thankfully I do not have this problem and I will worry about that when or if it happens. I have read that some think using slippery nylon sheets helps and maybe they do but at this stage such sheets would just annoy the hell out of me.
More about the daily struggles next week.
Jo-AnneRamplings 
Dearest Jo-Anne,
Indeed, a lot of little things to consider and to avoid.
All our cotton mats that I used for both bathrooms and our bedroom, are hung over the laundry carts in the laundry room.
For Pieter I did not use them and neither for my condition post accident. Having a fractured leg and knee does not need any more dangers for tripping or falling.
Socks I wear all year now since I’m very cold down my legs, knees, lower legs and feet. Indeed, grip socks are better!
Anything with shoe laces I’ve found a struggle already before. Pieter often did tighten them for me and tie them. Now I’m on my own.
Good thing that you already got a lift chair—just to be prepared.
Our sofa luckily is not a low one where you sink all the way down, so it is easy to get up from.
All our toilets are high ones and that makes all the difference!
Too bad that your shower drain is not functioning well—complicated issue.
Good grief—nylon sheets in bed?! What an idea. If I can’t sleep between all cotton sheet and down duvet cover, I would not be able to sleep at all.
Having night sweats adds to that nylon or anything synthetic negativity.
Never a problem getting in and out of bed—thankfully!
Last night was a good REST for me from 22:00 till 7:30 and that feels so good. Also a good two hour nap.
You are a very smart lady and have your daily life well organized!
Hugs,
Mariette
Hi Mariette, I never use to like grip socks but now I prefer them better then slipping and possibly falling, the lift chair is great you would have noticed in the photo I have to have a cushion behind my back and a rolled up throw rug under the cushion for back support.
Nylon sheets no not for me I would over heat and I sweat enough as it is.
I don’t know about me being smart but I am more organised the some.
Yes you sure are clever and very organized! That is a well earned compliment and you can take that to the bank 💞