The blog of a caregiver of a wife with Parkinson’s

Why:

My wife Pam has Parkinson's. Most of the caregiver accounts I found were written by women caring for husbands. I wanted to hear from men caring for wives and found relatively little written from that perspective. This blog is my attempt to document what that experience is like.

Who:

When:

How:

I plan on starting the blog as of right now. The information preceding the actual blog will be very important to evaluating what is in the blog; however, to do that information justice it will take some time. I plan to work on that as I can, but also thought it important to actually start the blog as soon as possible – I have a short memory. If I don’t start now, some things could be lost before I fill in the blanks.

Monday, November 9, 2026 –

Pam went to bed at 7:30 last night and I started getting her up shortly after 7 this morning. (Pam and I sleep in separate rooms in an apartment in a senior living facility.) Because of some of the symptoms Pam has been showing of late, I left the door to my room open. (As I write this, I can’t remember what those symptoms were.) She got me out of bed at 1:30 and 5 this morning. As described above (when it gets written) I have trouble understanding Pam’s speech. So, even as I write this in the afternoon, I have no idea why she was calling me in.

Since as I’m sitting here typing this and she is dozing in the chair next to me and talking in her sleep, it may have been she was simply talking in her sleep. I think I’ll close the door tonight.

I’m having trouble getting Pam to eat lately. It’s very inconsistent. Sometimes she seems to eat normally. Today she’s only had a couple bites of a sandwich and a couple spoonfuls of ice cream – not very nutritious but I haven’t found a way to force her to do anything.

Speaking of that, I did sit down with her in the morning and told her if she didn’t start paying attention to her health better, she would end up in the health care facility here. She asked if I was threatening her. I assured her I didn’t want it to happen but if she didn’t make good decisions, it was inevitable. She seemed to accept that.

Here physical therapist (PT) came this afternoon. Pam, as usual being the people pleaser I perceive her to be, did the routine pretty well. Lourdes (the PT) seemed pleased with her effort.

Pam suggested we get books and read to each other. She wanted non-fiction and we opted for a Jane Goodall book. Pam got a hard cover and I got a Kindall. I’m not sure how this is going to work, but we’ll see.

I wanted Pam to not go to bed until at least 9 but she only made it to 8.