Parkinson’s disease has changed just about everything for the Clarke family.
“My brother is so different from the person he used to be,” explains Ron. “When Fred first moved in with us two years ago, we wanted him in Toronto, closer to the family. We knew after his diagnosis that we had a complicated road ahead. What surprises me, though, is just how quickly Fred’s disease is progressing.”
In the initial days, Fred lived independently in Western Canada. As his condition worsened, he moved back East to a leafy enclave in Burlington, where he relies on family and in-home caregivers to navigate daily life.
Overlapping calendar entries now map out Fred’s web of appointments, therapies and activities. Colour-coding delineates Fred’s needs from those of his nephew, niece, brother and sister-in-law—family turned caregivers as his Parkinson’s disease evolves.
“At first, I thought we could do it all ourselves,” says Ron. “But it became really tough to balance caregiving against work and parenthood. To keep Fred living well at home, we now draw on about 60 hours of support from outside caregivers every week.”
Together with a team of two rotating caregivers, Ron has created a comprehensive plan to keep Fred as active as possible. A personal trainer visits the house several times a week. Caregivers make sure Fred gets out for a daily walk around the block. Meanwhile, Ron’s wife drives Fred to yoga classes, physiotherapy sessions and regular visits to his neurologist—as well as a host of other specialists.
“We’re not just looking for transactional care,” Ron says. “We want to offer Fred purpose in his days and meaningful interactions with a caregiver who understands what he’s going through. Fred gets really anxious. He also seems to slip into periods of depression. He’s Increasingly confused. All of this compounds the physical symptoms of Parkinson’s. The caregivers are amazing at supporting us as we figure out what works best for Fred.”
Some 57 of every 100,000 Ontarians are diagnosed with Parkinson’s annually
Parkinson’s is now the world’s fastest-growing neurodegenerative brain disorder. More than 30 people in Canada are diagnosed with Parkinson’s every single day. That means more than 100,000 Canadians are living with this complex brain disease, including a growing number right here in Ontario. Typically associated with its most common symptoms (tremor, slowness, stiffness, impaired balance and muscle rigidity), Parkinson’s can also include a wider, lesser known range of non-motor symptoms (notably cognitive changes, depression, difficulty swallowing).
“Many families reach out to us because they have a senior in their life who is experiencing Parkinson’s or dementia. It’s definitely a common conversation here,” says Timon Page, General Manager of TheKey Toronto. “They often start looking for help once they’ve crossed into caregiver burnout. I don’t think that’s on the average person’s radar until it happens to them. At that point, we can offer scalable caregiving, from full-time support to respite care that provides relatives a little break.”
Tapping into comprehensive Parkinson’s care in Toronto and beyond
As a leading in-home, senior and elder care provider in the Greater Toronto Area, Page says TheKey’s Balanced Care MethodTM is a natural fit for anyone coping with the condition: “Our differentiator really is the holistic approach we take to caregiving. Seniors in Toronto and beyond have many different needs, from Parkinson’s to Alzheimer’s. What’s important is that we get a really good understanding of the client as an individual, and then tailor a comprehensive caregiving plan to their specific needs.”
Whether that means weaving physical therapy (for mobility, flexibility and balance) into the daily routine, supervising occupational therapy sessions with a specialist or finding suitable ways to exercise muscles and joints, Page says TheKey Toronto’s goal is always to improve health and wellbeing overall.
“We care for seniors at home, and go beyond their physical needs,” Page explains. “A family might come in thinking their loved one needs help with toileting, bathing, that kind of thing. They forget that seniors also need cognitive stimulation, socialization, good nutrition. We bring together all of those areas in a single caregiving plan that helps people with Parkinson’s—and many other conditions—live well at home.”
That resonates with Ron, who works with Fred’s caregiving team to evolve plans in line with changing needs. Some days, that means taking a stroll to catch the sunset in their lakeside suburb. Other times, it means baking a loaf of banana bread together in the familiar warmth of their kitchen. Balance is everything.
“My brother isn’t going to get better,” Ron says. “But the right caregiving team can help maintain quality of life and wellbeing. That is so reassuring for all of us. The caregivers make it possible for Fred to be well at home, and for our family to thrive at the same time.”