Caregiving is a cross-country affair for the Cullen family.
Shared calendar entries connect Rhonda, in British Columbia, with her brother’s family on the East Coast. Together with a third sibling south of the border, they’re collaboratively — and virtually — managing the fourth Cullen’s progression through Parkinson’s disease.
“It’s hard to be so far away from my brother, Mike, as his condition has worsened over the last two years,” reflects Rhonda. “On the one hand, relatives on the ground with him are helping Mike navigate appointments, therapies and activities from one day to the next. On the other hand, we all pitch in to tackle the bigger picture challenges from afar.”
For Rhonda, that means packing up in Surrey, BC and flying East a handful of times a year. She’s largely in charge of respite care, travelling across Canada to relieve her relatives from the daily trials of caregiving for a week or two at a time. “Mike’s had a marked decline since he moved in with family in 2022,” says Rhonda. “It’s not just Mike’s mobility that’s affected. He’s gone through a lot changes, and he moves back and forth between bouts of anxiety, confusion and depression.”
At 62, Mike’s life has changed dramatically since his Parkinson’s diagnosis. He lived independently in Western Canada for the first few years. But as his condition declined, Mike moved back East, where he relies on family to navigate daily life. Rhonda does what she can from BC.
“In the beginning, we tried managing everything within the family. But balancing Mike’s needs against all of ours… it was a lot. He now requires about 60 hours of support from outside caregivers every single week just stay safe and cared for at home,” says Rhonda.
Together, Rhonda and her brothers have created a comprehensive plan to keep Mike as active as possible. When she visits from Surrey, Rhonda jumps in to oversee a personal trainer who visits the house several times a week. Caregivers make sure Mike gets out for a daily walk around the block. Throughout her visits, Rhonda drives Mike to yoga classes, physiotherapy sessions and regular visits to his neurologist — as well as a host of other specialists.
“Our family simply could not manage this stage without caregiver support,” Rhonda says. “Every time I come to town to offer some respite, I am amazed by how intense this experience is for everyone involved. When I’m back home in Surrey, I talk frequently to my relatives as well as the caregivers themselves. It takes all of us working together to ensure Mike feels safe and, hopefully, happy from one day to the next.”
In British Columbia, Parkinson’s now affects about 15,000 people — and their families
Parkinson’s is the fastest growing neurodegenerative brain disorder in the world. More than 30 people in Canada are diagnosed with Parkinson’s every single day. That means more than 100,000 people are living with this complex brain disease, including approximately 15,000 people right here in British Columbia.
Parkinson’s is typically associated with its most common symptoms — tremor, slowness, stiffness, impaired balance and muscle rigidity. But a wide range of non-motor symptoms (notably cognitive changes, depression, difficulty swallowing) are also part and parcel of Parkinson’s, which feels increasingly prevalent within caregiving circles.
“Parkinson’s is a very different journey for everybody,” says Sharon Speirs, General Manager of TheyKey Vancouver. “We’ve definitely seen an uptick in calls from families trying to figure out the best possible way to care for a loved one who’s living with Parkinson’s. Whenever this comes up, I always share the same advice: it takes a truly balanced approach to caregiving to ensure a client with Parkinson’s can live their best life at home.”
Offering holistic Parkinson’s care in Vancouver, Surrey and beyond
As a local in-home, senior and elder care provider in British Columbia, Speirs says TheKey’s Balanced Care MethodTM is a natural fit for anyone coping the condition: “It all comes down to the fact that Parkinson’s is a unique experience. Symptoms vary. That’s why we really focus on each client with Parkinson’s as an individual. We spend time learning about their experience and then build a customized care plan that really enables them to live life on their terms, in their own home.”
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, Speirs says local caregivers always aim to improve health and well-being for the folks they work with.
“Exercise. Nutrition. Mental wellness. All of this factors into a good care plan,” says Speirs. “Parkinson’s isn’t only about medication management. It’s about caring for clients in ways that feel supportive and comforting, and thinking big picture about what good health really means.”
That resonates with Rhonda, who has helped adapt and evolve Mike’s care plan in line with his changing needs. Her visits with him have changed a great deal over the last couple of years. As Mike’s abilities shift, Rhonda and the caregiving team continually evolve how they spend time together. Some days, that means taking a stroll to catch the sunset from a park bench. Other times, it means baking a loaf of banana bread together in the familiar warmth of the kitchen. Balance is everything.
“Mike isn’t going to get better,” Rhonda concedes. “We know that. But working hand-in-hand with the right caregivers has allowed us to make sure he has a great quality of life at every stage of this journey. That means a great deal to us and to him.”
Contact TheKey to learn more about how our support and care services can help you or your loved one.