Caring for Yourself While Caring for Someone Else

When you’re caring for someone with Parkinson’s disease, so much of your time and energy can be focused on their needs. You might be thinking about their medications, appointments, symptoms, meals, hydration and daily routine. Meanwhile, your own meals can easily become an afterthought.

You might skip breakfast, snack throughout the day instead of eating a meal or realize late in the afternoon that you’ve barely eaten anything. When you’re tired, busy or stressed, preparing another meal for yourself can feel like one more task you don’t have time for. But taking care of your own health isn’t selfish. Let’s talk about a few realistic ways to make your nutrition a little easier each week.

Eat together when possible

You don’t need to prepare two completely different meals. Start with foods you and your loved one can both eat. Then adjust portions, textures or ingredients based on individual needs. For example, you might both have chicken, rice and vegetables while adding a sauce or modifying the texture of the meal for the person with Parkinson’s. Sharing the same basic meal can reduce preparation time and give you an opportunity to sit down and eat too.

Let convenience foods help you

Nutritious food doesn’t always need to be prepared from scratch. Frozen vegetables, microwavable grains, canned beans, rotisserie chicken, bagged salads, Greek yogurt, eggs, fruit and prepared soups can make balanced meals significantly easier. Convenience foods are tools and they can be especially valuable during busy or difficult weeks.

Keep a few emergency meals available

Choose three to five simple meals that require very little time or thought. These might include:

• Eggs, whole grain toast and fruit

• Greek yogurt with berries, nuts and cereal

• A rotisserie chicken sandwich with vegetables

• Microwavable rice, frozen vegetables and a convenient protein

• Soup with crackers, fruit or a sandwich

Keeping these ingredients available can prevent you from having to make another decision when your energy is already low.

Stop waiting until you feel completely depleted

Long periods without eating can leave you feeling tired, irritable and less able to manage everything on your plate. Try to keep simple foods nearby like nuts, fruit, cheese, yogurt, protein bars, whole grain crackers etc. You don’t need the ‘perfect’ snack but sometimes you need something to give you enough energy to get through the next part of your day.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help

If friends or family ask how they can help, give them a concrete task. You might ask them to pick up groceries, bring a meal, prepare several servings of a favorite recipe or sit with your loved one while you take a break. People want to help but don’t always know how to be helpful. Giving them a specific request can make it easier for everyone.

Caring for someone with Parkinson’s can be meaningful, but it can also be physically and emotionally demanding. But your health matters just as much as the people you care for. Focus on eating consistently, using convenient options and allowing other people to support you when you can. Remember, taking care of yourself is part of caring for someone else.