My name is Mario Lalancette, I have been retired for two years and I live in Alma. My partner’s name is Diane Bouchard. She was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2011, we’ve been together since 2017.
It must be said that Diane was lucky to experience what is called a ” honeymoon period ”. The symptoms were everywhere and the medication was doing its job very well. The situation got worse with the arrival of COVID 19: sports activities being very limited, it had the effect of a regression on his state of health. Remember, the secret to slowing the progression of Parkinson’s is to move. Sport is undoubtedly the best medicine for people with Parkinson’s disease.
I have lived with my partner for almost five years, and I have adapted. Organizations like Parkinson Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean and L’Appui have helped me a lot in my adaptation process. I had no idea what people with Parkinson’s were and went through on a daily basis until I met my partner. Since then I have done my homework! For a caregiver, love and affection for their loved one is a must-have. Mutual resilience is essential so that everyone finds their benefit. Above all, most importantly: to keep your individual identity.
Even though I already have a lot of support through organizations, financial support whether at Federal and/or Provincial level would be very welcome, because the caregiver has a back-end role. The care, effort and love are by no means recognized anywhere. It is thanks to his or her caregiver that he or she has access to a relatively comfortable quality of life while maintaining his or her dignity. So I tip my hat to all the caregivers to pay them tribute. Well done for your dedication!
