The challenges and rewards of living single with Parkinson's Disease. By Susan Pedwell Living alone when you have Parkinson's Disease can be frightening. But the single life does have its benefits, and much can be done to improve conditions and alleviate worry for those who live on their own. Parkinson's disease is challenging enough for individuals living within the warm embrace of a supportive spouse. Parkinson's in itself can be quite isolating.
People have to make a point of trying to reach out to others as much as possible.
If you isolate yourself, you can become depressed. It's a quick slide from sadness to depression if there's no one to catch you on your downward descent. Studies show that depression rates are higher among people who live alone, even without the challenges of Parkinson's. Factor in that Parkinson's makes people more vulnerable to depression because of the biochemical and neurological aspects of the disease, and living alone could be a recipe for depression. In fact, they say there are advantages to being on their own, as long as your social needs are met.