Letters to the Editor

Understanding PD this Parkinson’s Awareness Month

An estimated one million people in the U.S. live with Parkinson’s disease (PD), while another 90,000 people will be diagnosed with PD by the end of this year. Commonly known for its movement or motor-related symptoms, people with PD are often more impacted by non-motor symptoms like apathy, depression and sleep behavior disorders. As the second most common neurodegenerative disease in the country, the number of people living with the disease is expected to rise to 1.2 million by 2030.

April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month, and I, along with the Parkinson’s Foundation urge everyone in Tyler, Texas to join our community in promoting greater awareness of how Parkinson’s affects those living with the disease and their families. To get involved, individuals can donate to the Parkinson’s Foundation to support research and programs, participate in a local event, or share their stories or others’ stories on social media.

Also, as a Parkinson’s Foundation Ambassador, I encourage our Parkinson’s community to order or download the free Parkinson’s Foundation Hospital Safety Guide at https://www.parkinson.org/resources-support/hospital-safety-guide and use it to prepare for a hospital stay, whether it is planned or in the event of an emergency. Each guide has useful resources to help a person with Parkinson’s advocate for their best care such as a letter to be signed by your doctor, a medication form, and a medical alert card. Together, we can help those with PD live better lives today, while advancing research toward a cure for tomorrow.

Melinda Hermanns, PhD, RN, PMH-BC, CNE, PN/FCN, ANEF

Tyler