Parkinson's Disease Through a... Video Transcript

Webcast Transcript

GUISLA SCHAFSTELLAR: Sometimes I get into the act a little bit too soon. When he's not at that point yet where he would like to have help and then I get a curt response from him and I know to back off. And so I automatically ask, "Would you like for me to do this or that?" And then, yeah, he says, "Okay," and then I do it.

HELMUT SCHAFSTELLAR: I'm not this old, ancient guy getting dependent. I can still hold my own. I don't reject her help. But I also try to make this as easy as possible, because she is not getting younger, either.

ANNOUNCER: The physical challenges are not the only problems that the caregiver must be prepared to deal with. Depression can accompany the disease.

HELMUT SCHAFSTELLAR: I can see myself easily getting depressed. My wife is a very happy soul. She doesn't let me linger on that too long.

GUISLA SCHAFSTELLAR: Helmut is not an ebullient, outgoing kind of a person; he internalizes things more and is very quiet. And so there were concerns there that I had; how he would deal with it, but he deal with it pretty well and still does.

ANNOUNCER: While the patient's needs can seem paramount, the needs of the caregiver are equally important.

MATTHEW B. STERN, MD: They're every bit as much the patient as their spouse or partner is. And that they have to recognize the needs that they have. We, for example, have a social worker in house who deals with caregivers as much as she deals with patients.

There's a network of support groups throughout the country that caregivers can get involved with. So there are resources out there

ANNOUNCER: So far Guisla has taken her new role in stride.

GUISLA SCHAFSTELLAR: I'm a person who is automatically doing things that I see need to be done. So it all is in a day's - day's work, you know?

MATTHEW B. STERN, MD: There can't help but be strains on her, but I think she's coped magnificently. And, in fact, is in, to no small extent, responsible for Helmut's sense of well-being.

ANNOUNCER: Still it's a delicate balance that the Schafstellars must maintain.

GUISLA SCHAFSTELLAR: My role as a caregiver will probably increase. And since we don't have a crystal ball and we can't look into the future, we just take it day by day.

Keep a sense of humor. With a sense of humor, you can deal with almost anything.

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