Jen and Dave share their story in support of World Parkinson’s Day
This year’s World Parkinson’s Day theme encourages communities to show support, raise awareness, and champion both those living with Parkinson’s and the people who care for them. Jen and Dave’s experience highlights the crucial impact of having the right support that not only provides specialist expertise but facilitates social interaction, community connection and wellbeing through activities that encourage independence and build confidence.
Every year on 11 April, World Parkinson’s Day brings people together across the globe to increase understanding of Parkinson’s disease, the fastest-growing neurodegenerative condition in the world.
With around 166,000 people living with Parkinson’s in the UK, and one person diagnosed every 20 minutes, awareness and support have never been more important.
As part of this year’s awareness campaign, Basildon couple Jen and Dave are sharing their story to help shine a light on the realities of living with Parkinson’s and the difference the right support can make.
Their story is one of resilience, love, and finding joy in everyday moments, even as Parkinson’s brings change and challenge.
Jen and Dave have been married for 47 years, with two sons and a relationship that Jen affectionately describes “as in love now as when they first met”. A former shorthand typist, Jen was diagnosed with Parkinson’s and Lewy body dementia in 2019.
For many years, Jen’s symptoms were manageable. She enjoyed days out with her sons, sewing, and living life much as she always had. But Parkinson’s affects everyone differently and Jen found that her condition gradually began to impact more of her everyday activities.
As Jen’s symptoms increased, she and Dave began to explore the benefits of Jen attending a day centre. Initially attending another local centre called, and then as her needs changed a year ago, they turned to ECL Basildon Older People’s Day Centre.
ECL’s specialist team are skilled in supporting customers with additional needs, decreased mobility or who are living with conditions such as dementia including Vascular, Alzheimer’s, Lewy Body, Frontotemporal and mixed dementia, and Parkinson’s disease.
The Basildon Day Centre provides Jen with safe, structured care and the chance to stay socially connected. She attends every Tuesday and Friday and looks forward to it, especially the banter and laughter she shares with other customers and with her key support worker Lynn.
At the day centre, the team support Jen with eating, drinking, medication, and mobility but importantly, they also help her stay connected to the things she enjoys. Such as regular outings to Southend and Basildon, dominoes and table games, crafts, baking and chair-fit sessions.
She also enjoys the group singing sessions, which help with the muscle paralysis and rigidity in her throat muscles caused by Parkinson’s. Jen jokes that she loves singing along to Bobby Vee but not Lynn’s singing quite as much.
It’s a godsend to me and Jen likes it there, she looks forward to going, which is great. She gets interaction with different people, which is what she misses at home.
Dave
A lifeline for both Jen and Dave
The day centre doesn’t just benefit Jen; it brings vital respite to Dave too.
“It’s a godsend to me and Jen likes it there, she looks forward to going, which is great. She gets interaction with different people, which is what she misses at home.”
While Jen enjoys her activities, Dave uses the time to go to the gym, run errands and meet up with his friends. He explains how valuable this time is: “It’s nice to not have to clock-watch. When carers are with Jen, I only have a couple of hours, so I’m rushing around. You’re frightened to go too far really in case you get stuck in traffic coming back. With the day centre, I can actually relax.”
Jen also recommends the centre to others, “It’s better than I thought it would be. I didn’t think I’d like it, but I do. Sometimes I feel it’s not fair that I have Parkinson’s, but coming here helps, I get out and about and do different things.”
Jen and Dave’s experience journey shows that with the right help, people living with Parkinson’s and their loved ones can continue doing the things they enjoy, stay connected, and maintain their quality of life.
For more information about Parkinson’s visit www.parkinsons.org.uk
I didn’t think I’d like coming to a day centre, but I do. Sometimes I feel it’s not fair that I have Parkinson’s, but coming here helps, I get out and about and do different things.
Jen
