 |
 |
Hi My mom had Parkinson's and now my wife does, so I have had some experience with it. I would emphasize that you have to make him understand that you are urging him to exercise out of love for him which I am sure that you are doing. Also find some activity that he enjoys or used to and get involved with that. With the weather shortly improving more outdoor activities will be available. The winter is brutal since it restricts the possibilities. My mom and I walked fairly regularly and occasionally rowed a boat. We would play catch with a beach ball and count the number of times we caught it always trying to better the number. My wife really likes to swim which can be done with a heated pool even in the winter. Just walking in the shallow end of the pool is really good exercise. We parked a distance away when going to the movies to make the walk a necessity. If he has a competitive aspect to his personality, you can use that to get him to push himself once he gets going to do more. But it has to be something he likes or it won't go anywhere. I know from personal experience that depression can be brought on or made worse by a failure to move so he has to get going. I wish I had something more to offer but getting ourselves to exercise is difficult even when we are healthy. God bless you and best of luck. Rob ----- Original Message ----- From: <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2008 8:49 AM Subject: need help! for my Dad with Parkinson's > Hi, > I've been on this list serv for 5 or 6 years. My father has had > Parkinson's for 7 or 8 years. He is 79 yrs. old. Over a year ago he got > pneumonia (before which he was getting around fine, going on trips, > working in the yard, etc.) but for months refused to do the physical > therapy to get his strength back again...and his legs got weak so he could > hardly walk at all...well, me and my step-mom finally got him on a low > level serotonin uptake inhibitor (Lexapro) because the doctor said > clinical depression could be causing his stubbornness about exercise (they > said he could be fine and go home if he would push himself and exercise > more) ... we also got him a personal trainer (3 days a week) > The Lexapro definitely seems to be helping his outlook and he IS standing > and walking a little bit now with a walker but he is only doing the > minimal amount of exercise (he's in a rehab facility) > If we tell him to do anything he acts like we're nagging (he was president > of a company and is used to being the boss) > Also, he's getting over the flu so he's a little weaker right now. > They say you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink but my > question is this: > How can we motivate him to do what he needs to do to get moving again? > They said that if he would move around more and carry on with walking and > exercise it would build his immune system so he'd be less likely to get > pneumonia. > I would appreciate any suggestions! > Paul > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: > mailto:[log in to unmask] > In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn