Parkinson’s Life Hacks
January: My Parkinson’s Passport
Developed by the European Parkinson’s Disease Association, and designed to personalize and carry with you when traveling, it provides a fill-in Microsoft Word document format for containing all your essential medical information in one, easy-to-carry “passport”. Click here for a PDF version of the Passport.
Developed by the European Parkinson’s Disease Association, and designed to personalize and carry with you when traveling, it provides a fill-in Microsoft Word document format for containing all your essential medical information in one, easy-to-carry “passport”. Click here for a PDF version of the Passport.
February: What is a “Bookmark” on my computer?
Why and how to create one: A bookmark is a saved shortcut that directs your browser to a specific webpage. It is an easy way to save a web page. In most browsers, pressing CNTRL + D will bookmark the page you are viewing. It stores the title, URL (“web address”) and favicon of the corresponding page. It’s a super shortcut. Internet Explorer uses the name "Favorites" to refer to bookmarks and, like Safari, displays all your favorites in a list within the browser window sidebar. To learn more, click here.
Why and how to create one: A bookmark is a saved shortcut that directs your browser to a specific webpage. It is an easy way to save a web page. In most browsers, pressing CNTRL + D will bookmark the page you are viewing. It stores the title, URL (“web address”) and favicon of the corresponding page. It’s a super shortcut. Internet Explorer uses the name "Favorites" to refer to bookmarks and, like Safari, displays all your favorites in a list within the browser window sidebar. To learn more, click here.
March: The Power of Neutral Thinking:
“Neutral Thinking” is the practice of accepting the idea that when something good or bad happens, it happens. Instead of getting caught up in the negativity of a bad past or a mental or physical mistake, you just accept that it happened and move on. The 5 steps include: Go neutral, Stop giving credence to feelings, Use what you have, Focus on reducing negativity, not increasing positivity, Watch your language. To learn more, click here.
“Neutral Thinking” is the practice of accepting the idea that when something good or bad happens, it happens. Instead of getting caught up in the negativity of a bad past or a mental or physical mistake, you just accept that it happened and move on. The 5 steps include: Go neutral, Stop giving credence to feelings, Use what you have, Focus on reducing negativity, not increasing positivity, Watch your language. To learn more, click here.
April: Hand-washing
The Best Way to Wash Your Hands: Hand-washing is easy and one of the best ways to protect you and your family from spreading germs and getting sick. Clean hands can stop germs from spreading from one person to another and throughout an entire community. You can help yourself and your loved ones stay healthy by washing your hands often and by following the easy steps listed on this flyer.
When should you wash your hands? Wash before, during and after preparing food; before eating; before and after caring for someone; after changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet; before and after treating a cut or wound; after using the toilet; after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing; after touching an animal, its feed or waste and after touching garbage.
The Best Way to Wash Your Hands: Hand-washing is easy and one of the best ways to protect you and your family from spreading germs and getting sick. Clean hands can stop germs from spreading from one person to another and throughout an entire community. You can help yourself and your loved ones stay healthy by washing your hands often and by following the easy steps listed on this flyer.
When should you wash your hands? Wash before, during and after preparing food; before eating; before and after caring for someone; after changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet; before and after treating a cut or wound; after using the toilet; after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing; after touching an animal, its feed or waste and after touching garbage.
May: ZOOM
How to stay connected via ZOOM: With physical distancing in place for the foreseeable future, learning new ways to maintain social connections is more important than ever. One way to do this is via the computer or phone application, Zoom. Zoom is a videotelephony and online chat service. San Diego’s Parkinson’s community offers numerous Zoom support groups with both online computer or phone-in access. To avail yourself of these resources, you’ll want to learn how to install and use Zoom on your computer or how to phone in. Our instructional handout walks you through the steps and provides contact information for obtaining one-on-one help, if desired. For additional assistance click here to view an instructional video.
How to stay connected via ZOOM: With physical distancing in place for the foreseeable future, learning new ways to maintain social connections is more important than ever. One way to do this is via the computer or phone application, Zoom. Zoom is a videotelephony and online chat service. San Diego’s Parkinson’s community offers numerous Zoom support groups with both online computer or phone-in access. To avail yourself of these resources, you’ll want to learn how to install and use Zoom on your computer or how to phone in. Our instructional handout walks you through the steps and provides contact information for obtaining one-on-one help, if desired. For additional assistance click here to view an instructional video.
June: Hug Hack
As human beings, we are both attachment and touch based. During the Coronavirus pandemic, we are being asked to do the most counterintuitive thing that we could be forced to do during a time of deep stress.
The Hug Hack is the application of the self-havening touch (stroking) or hug on the arms, which stimulates neurological connections in times of physical distancing and shifts our state into what is called a delta wave or calm state. For a demonstration, please click here.
As human beings, we are both attachment and touch based. During the Coronavirus pandemic, we are being asked to do the most counterintuitive thing that we could be forced to do during a time of deep stress.
The Hug Hack is the application of the self-havening touch (stroking) or hug on the arms, which stimulates neurological connections in times of physical distancing and shifts our state into what is called a delta wave or calm state. For a demonstration, please click here.
July: Bed Ladder Assist
The Bed Ladder allows individuals to incrementally rise to a seated position. Constructed with a durable webbing that supports up to 300 lbs., the bed ladder helps make sitting up easier. The length is adjustable, offers soft, nonslip handles, and requires no tools to install. For more information, please click here.
The Bed Ladder allows individuals to incrementally rise to a seated position. Constructed with a durable webbing that supports up to 300 lbs., the bed ladder helps make sitting up easier. The length is adjustable, offers soft, nonslip handles, and requires no tools to install. For more information, please click here.
August: Silicon Tip Covers for Stainless Steel Drinking Straws
Protect Your Teeth and Lips: With soft silicone tips cover, no need to contact the straws directly, no worry about chipping your lips and teeth.
These ecofriendly, food grade silicon straw tips cover the 4mm end of stainless-steel straws. They offer antiscald/cold protection, and guard teeth and lips from chips and cuts.
For more information, click here.
Protect Your Teeth and Lips: With soft silicone tips cover, no need to contact the straws directly, no worry about chipping your lips and teeth.
These ecofriendly, food grade silicon straw tips cover the 4mm end of stainless-steel straws. They offer antiscald/cold protection, and guard teeth and lips from chips and cuts.
For more information, click here.
September:
Fingertip Pulse Oximeter Blood Oxygen Saturation Monitor: Accurately monitor your blood oxygen saturation, pulse rate and strength. Typically obtained as part of your in-person medical visit, having a Pulse Oximeter for home use provides you accurate, real time information on your health, as well as your provider when meeting via a telemedicine conference.
Available online
For more information, click here.
Available online
For more information, click here.
October:
November:
December:
- *Definition of life hack
- informal
- a usually simple and clever tip or technique for accomplishing some familiar task more easily and efficiently
- To submit a Parkinson’s Life Hack, please send an email to: president@sdccpsg.org