YOPX hacks
Living well with Parkinson’s, especially when diagnosed at a younger age, involves adopting various strategies and “hacks” to navigate daily life. Here are some hacks from people living with young onset. Remember, humour and creativity can be powerful tools in facing Parky challenges. Turn the everyday into an adventure, and you’ll find joy and resilience in unexpected places.
Improving your diet may feel overwhelming, especially if you have children at home. Start small and make simpler changes first – such as ensuring you have leafy greens with every meal or adding seeds and nuts to your cereal each day. Add another change each week, and you’ll feel better for it in no time.
More on diet and nutrition here.
Write down bothersome symptoms, good days, any medication changes and how they’ve worked (noting side effects too).
- Take note of how sleep amount and quality, too many carbs, lack of water, stress or whatever has affected you, and what you’ve done to fix this.
- Take note of what you do on good days and try to repeat this consistently.
- Use the notes section of your phone with dates so you can refer back to it when you catch up with your neurologist or Parkinson’s Nurse to save valuable time at appointments.
- Use the YOPX app to check-in on fatigue, sleep, relationships and more. You can use these to take a snapshot of your symptoms at that time and email directly to your treating health professional or print the pdf at home to keep a folder of changes over time. Don’t forget to take them semi-regularly so you can track changes to your scores over time.
Transform symptom tracking into a positive journey and write down small victories, funny moments, and personal achievements. Celebrate the progress!
More at:
Get an AirTag attached to your keyring, coupled with “Hey Siri, where are you ?” to find your phone and your keys using the “Find My ” app.
It will save time and frustration when you don’t remember where you left your keys.
Create a smart home with your appliances and lights on voice commands for a touch of tech-savvy fun. You can set your medication reminders, turn lights on or off, and so much more…
More at:
Put your cards in your “wallet” on your phone or watch to save yourself from fumbling with cards and conventional wallets. Also look to specially made wallets that can ease access to your cards.
When you are working and caring for children, the idea of exercising can seem near impossible – and it becomes its own form of stress. It can help to integrate exercise into your day-to-day life – for example, riding to work a couple of times a week or walking to the shops. Get off the bus a few stops earlier so you can walk the remaining distance. Rope a friend in for a gym session or take the kids to kick the soccer ball in the park. Celebrate what you have done rather than what you should be doing – any movement is better than no movement.
Transform your home… start with small changes that aim to reduce falls and make everyday living easier for you:
- Get rid of potential obstacles on the floor (e.g. throw rugs and extension cords).
- Leave plenty of space between pieces of furniture.
- Get furniture that is the right height for you
- Create clear paths and declutter throughout your home.
- Have good lighting, especially from the bedroom to the bathroom for those nighttime visits.
More at:
Parkinson’s-friendly homes infosheet from Parkinson’s Australia & OT Aus
Michael J. Fox Foundation 7 home safety tips for people living with Parkinson’s disease
There are a number of ways to be active with Parkinson’s, and cycling seems to work for people, even with issues walking and freezing episodes. You can get special devices that can be programmed to shift from one side only (to compensate for the loss of dexterity on your parky side). You can also consult a bike fitter to ensure your one-sidedness is considered to make your ride smoother and safer.
Consider legal and financial planning early on, including Advance Care Directives and discussing long-term care options with loved ones. It’s one less thing to stress about!
Advance care planning is simply about getting your thoughts and wishes in order now, so if you ever become too unwell to speak for yourself, your family and doctors know exactly what you want—or don’t want—in terms of treatment. For someone with young onset Parkinson’s in Australia, this means discussing your treatment preferences, writing them down in an advance care directive, and even choosing a trusted person to make decisions for you if needed. There are a couple of different types of documents for this planning, each with its own details, so it’s worth finding out which one best suits your situation.
More at:
State/territory-based information exists to help you at Advance Care Planning Australia.
Plan your meals for the week ahead. It saves money by cutting down on waste and helps reduce the mental load of what to have for dinner each night. It also helps you keep on track with healthier meal options.
- use pre-chopped vegetables for less hassle
Dual task cognitive training doesn’t have to be rocket science. Have music on and sing while you are cooking. Do balance or gait exercises while using big movements, big voice and thinking tasks all at once!
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Try out new recipes or create your own Parkinson’s-friendly dishes. It’s a delicious way to stay engaged with your love for food and increases neuroplasticity.
Create a playlist with your favourite tunes that serve as a reminder to take your medications. Who says pill time can’t be a jam session?
Turn grocery shopping into a game. Challenge yourself to remember 10 things on your list and navigate the aisles with style, turning corners smoothly and grabbing items like you are on a mission.
Swap out traditional laces for elastic ones, turning your shoes into slip-ons. No more wrestling with knots when your fingers decide to rebel!
Transform tremors into a unique art form. Grab a canvas, some paint, and let your shakes create a masterpiece. Your personal art style is unmatched!
Invite friends over for a Parkinson’s-friendly yoga session. Embrace the wobbles and giggles as you all find your zen together.
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