It has occurred to me that this forum could be a good place for the spouses of the women at the Caregiver's Forum (predominantly women at this forum). So many of these women have said that their husbands feel that their wives (their caregivers) do NOT understand what they are experiencing...how they are suffering, etc...and, of course, this is a reality. No one really understands until/unless one experiences...one can only imagine. These women are constantly struggling with this particular issue in addition to the many physical/emotional aspects of the disease. It would seem to me, then, that a possible solution would be for them to attempt to guide/direct their pwp's to a place like this...a place where they could relate to others afflicted w/PD...a place to discover that they are NOT alone w/this experience and where they would know that ABSOLUTELY, you all would understand which, in itself, might bring them at least a degree of "comfort". There is always the possibility (probability), too, that much could be learned about the physical/medical aspects, i.e., symptoms and medications to treat these symptoms...and personal coping skills, too. When I read the caregivers' "posts", it is heartbreaking. They so much want to help their pwp's and are at a loss as to how to do this. I tend to agree with others who have said that the "carers" suffer as much as their pwp's...perhaps, even more because of their inability to do what's best for someone they love. They just feel so helpless. It seems, too, that most of their pwp's are very reluctant to join support groups. In fact, my pwp's neurologist advised that she not join a support group. Certainly, NeuroTalk IS a support group, but I do not equate it with the term "per se" so that it seems to me that this place could offer needed support without its being in a support group setting which just might be more "appealing". I don't know if I'm going in the right direction with all this, but I just feel the need to help these people so much. Perhaps I should ask two questions of you to give me a better idea as to the value of my approaching the caregivers and suggesting this route to them: How did YOU arrive at this place? How best could these "carers" encourage their pwp's to come to this place? Maybe I need to know the answers to these questions before I embark on what might be a worthless, valueless "journey", i.e., approaching the caregivers with my idea.
I would appreciate and I thank you for any input you may feel you would like to share with me.

Therese