U-Step for people with PD

[Lucy]

Hi,

Yesterday when we took our mother to the PD specialist clinic, in our exam room, someone had left a brand new one of those U-Step Walkers for people to be able to see and try out. Mom's not able to use one of those, but I "took it for a test run" around the room, and could see why it would've been helpful to Mother years ago in place of her other walkers. It comes with or without one of those laser things from which a line of light will go in front of the person walking. It has been shown that this prevents "freezing" in PD patients (if my memory serves me correctly). This one had a red light, but I didn't push it, thinking it might sound off a loud alarm, but before we left, I had figured out that that button was to turn on the laser light. Wish I'd actually tried out the light -- shucks!

Just thought I'd post this as so many families and individuals these days are dealing with Parkinsons Disease, and this kind of stuff to help with everyday function can really make a big difference if the need arises. Familes and patients dealing with PD can really learn alot from each other, much of which is learned through trial and error, so I would advise anyone diagnosed with it to become involved in a good support group right away.

Also, if anyone is newly diagnosed, she the "23 and Me" website by googling it, and just ask those folks to tell you how to get involved in the research project where ya just pay the 25 bucks for the 400 bucks worth of genetic testing.
I'm finally going to have to just write the help line there as I'll never figure out how to participate if I don't. I wrote another post on just this site, and how I learned about it recently.

Take care.
Yours, Luce