Flying Solo With Parkinson’s

Singles now outnumber married people in the United States. In 2014 it was reported that, for the first time, the number of unmarried American adults outnumbered those who were married. One in 7 lives alone – about 31 million compared with 4 million in 1950 – and many of those are clustered in urban centers.  

The growth in the number of men living alone is especially dramatic, rising from less than 6 percent in 1970 to more than 12 percent in 2012, according to a Census Bureau report released in 2014, fifteen percent of households are women living alone.

The prevalence of Parkinson’s disease rises sharply with age, and with a three- to fourfold increase in disease rate within the United States is expected to occur over the next ten years, what will it mean for those who live alone?

As someone who lives alone, I experienced firsthand the turmoil an unexpected injury or illness can bring, when nearly two years ago I had a fall with a severe wrist fracture. As the sole earner, I was acutely aware of how quickly the dominoes could fall if I was unable to work and fulfill my life’s obligations.

Do you live alone? Do you have Parkinson’s? How do you approach work, medications, and appointments? What are your concerns about the future?  We want to hear from you.

Join me and guest: Dr. Paul Short, the Parkinson's Coach, a neuropsychologist specializing in work with individuals and families touched by movement disorders.

Send a tweet: @voiceaerobics @PDpsych  #Parkinson’s #single