Parkinson’s Care & Support

We were delighted to have received this feedback from a patient we saw who was referred to us by the charity we support – Parkinsons Care and Support. This is what she had to say….

I would like to write a few words of gratitude to the Parkinson’s charity who have supported me over the last couple of months.

The last lock down over the winter months was very difficult for me. I found that I was becoming more and more inactive, lack of motivation to become active, such as walking out ( which I was previously doing ). I was becoming very stiff and suffering much more pain. My anxiety shot through the roof and I was feeling I had no purpose in life. I have always been a very independent person and always in control. I had worked in the NHS for 43yrs my last post was a Nurse specialist for upper GI cancer services, so I was the care provider not the care receiver. I was absolutely devastated to get this diagnosis.

I decided I needed to do something about this . My daughter looked up neuro physio and to our surprise a name came up that we both recognised, me from working in the NHS and again from attending the gym I attended once retired. Suzanne Maddison.

I contacted her and she told me about the Parkinson’s care & support charity, which she gave me the link to, and strongly advised me to contact them.

I cannot thank Suzanne enough for her help , kindness and understanding.

I did contact the charity and spoke with a lovely lady, whose name I think was Rachel.

She took her time and listened to how I was feeling with compassion and empathy. She felt sure she would be able to help me. Rachel sent me a wealth of information and many links to services they provide.

Two areas I was particularly interested in was a program ACT which addressed acceptance of the condition, which I’d always struggled with and the physiotherapy.

I filled out the relevant forms and was assessed and accepted for both.

I was contacted by Dr Mary Delaney who provided a four week course of therapy ( I have already given her some feedback. ) I wanted to say a massive thank you to her. She was so kind and understanding of my mental traumas I was going through. At the first meeting I could not talk about my diagnosis with out crying. I was experiencing very negative thoughts and was focusing on what this condition prevented me doing, rather than what I can do.

Dr Mary provided me with the tools and techniques that I needed to try and get my life back on track, with care and compassion. She made me see the feelings I was experiencing was normal. It wasn’t easy and I found it quite intense at times, however I stuck with it and done each homework after each session . I can honestly say it has made a huge difference to my feeling of well-being.

I was also very fortunate to be funded from the charity for six sessions of physiotherapy. Rachel Ready came to my house, (with PPE in place always) and put me through my paces.

Rachel has much experience with people with Parkinson’s and has a wealth of knowledge. She is kind, understanding and it’s been a pleasure to have be given the opportunity to have her as my physiotherapist. She has given me programs & exercises to follow daily. I cannot express enough what a difference this has made to me.

This is an amazing charity, which has people working for them that really does provide care and support.

I have been diagnosed for two years now and never received this kind of support before. I am so grateful to every once concerned. I have passed the details on to my Nurse Specialist, so she can pass the details on to other sufferers .

I am still fearful about my future and those negative thoughts do creep back in at times, but I have been given the skills and confidence to deal with them as best I can. I’m not so anxious and the pain has lessened with the daily exercises . I am fully aware that things change and that this is a degenerative condition but I hope for now I will have a better quality of life for as long as I can.

Once again I wish to pass my thoughts and gratitude on to you all.

Very best wishes

Mary C, Chelmsford