Active Living

While it’s important for everyone to keep active and healthy, if you have Parkinson’s your lifestyle is also an important part of your treatment plan. Find out more under the headings below:

• General health information
• Exercise and Parkinson’s
• Exercise and activity options
• Diet and nutrition
• Meals services
  
  

General health information
A balanced lifestyle, including regular exercise, sleep and good nutrition are key factors in keeping well. Find out more from the list of public health information websites:

• Better Health - Physical activity and health benefits
• Go for your life
• Well for life
  
• Council of the Ageing (COTA)
  
• www.seniors.gov.au – Physical Activity
• Our section on Sleep European Parkinson’s Disease Association (EPDA).

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Exercise and Parkinson’s
Growing evidence shows that regular exercise helps to reduce your Parkinson’s symptoms, when used in conjunction with appropriate medication. Find out more from the information resources listed here:

• Better Health – Parkinson’s Disease and Exercise
• Jackie Russell (2008), Exercise: The Positive Effects, EPNN Journal, pp.12-13
  
• Parkinson’s exercise guides and resources
• Delay the Disease : Exercise and Parkinson’s Disease is one of the most popular resources.
• Call Parkinson’s Victoria - (03) 9551 1122 to order a copy.

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Exercise and activity options
A range of structured exercise and activity options can help you remain mobile and active.

These include:

• Your local fitness centre
• Programs at your local community health centre or neighbourhood house
• Walking groups run by your local council
• Council of the Ageing – Strength for Life exercise groups
• Arthritis Victoria – Tai Chi groups - 1800 011 041

• YMCA – pryme movers programs

Find additional information at the Office for Senior Victorians – Activities for Seniors section.

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Diet and nutrition
Good nutrition helps you stay well and maintain a healthy outlook on life. Find general information on nutrition in Go for your life – Healthy eating for older adults.

If you have Parkinson’s, however, you may need to pay extra attention to your diet to make sure you absorb your medication properly. Depending on your medication plan, you may be advised to rearrange your protein-rich meals so they do not compete for absorption.

Find out more from the following websites:

• Parkinson’s Australia – Diet and nutrition
  
• European Parkinson’s Disease Association (EPDA) – Guide to healthy eating
  
• Rewrite Tomorrow (EPDA) – Diet and Nutrition
  

Other common problems with Parkinson’s include swallowing and weight loss. To find out more about dietitians and speech pathologists, visit our section on health professionals.

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Meals services
Meals-on-wheels may be provided by your local community care service.

If you are not eligible, private meals services are available. Find them by searching www.yellowpages.com.au for ‘catering and food consultants’ or ‘frozen foods – retail’.

Some examples include:

• Tender Loving Cuisine - 1800 801 200
• Choice Meals Service (Brighton) - 9592 2648
• Katrina’s Kitchen - 9569 0488

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