• Topic
• Nerves & brain >> Parkinson's disease >> Work, career, benefits >> Work, career, benefits

Work,career,benefits

• >> Parkinson's disease >> Work, career, benefits >> Work, career, benefits

Work,career,benefits

• Clip
• Nerves & brain >> Parkinson's disease >> Carers >> Mari - Interview 45 >> Humphrey was not given levodopa at first. When he was, Mari noticed a surprising improvement in his symptoms.

Mari describes what it’s like seeing and, herself, dealing with the symptoms of her husband’s Parkinson’s Disease.

• Nerves & brain >> Parkinson's disease >> 5-7 years >> Rex - Interview 04 >> Rex had been uncertain whether he should apply for Disabled Living Allowance; he now wishes that he had applied for this before he was 65.

Rex was diagnosed six years ago. His main symptom now is tremor in his right hand and he is still active and mobile.

• Nerves & brain >> Parkinson's disease >> 8-12 years >> Sharon - Interview 31 >> Sharon had to pay back her incapacity benefit when her work pension came through.

Forced by her Parkinsons symptoms to retire from a career she loved as a teacher Sharon turned things round by becoming a business woman creating the very successful Cake Bake Company.

• Nerves & brain >> Parkinson's disease >> Over 12 years >> Alan - Interview 03 >> Alan advises people to get advice when filling in benefits forms, to be sure that their level of disability is appreciated and not make the mistake of

Diagnosed in 1992, Alan can’t walk until he has taken his morning medication. He has ballroom dancing lessons once a week which keeps him fit and mobile.

• Nerves & brain >> Parkinson's disease >> Carers >> Isabelle - Interview 42 >> Some but not all of the costs of care were covered by allowances.

Isabelle’s mother who had had PD for 12 years came to live with her in 2002. It was not always easy to care for her and for her own young children. After an admission to hospital they agreed to move her to a nearby nursing home. This has worked well for all of them.

• Nerves & brain >> Parkinson's disease >> 8-12 years >> Judie - Interview 20 >> Judie found that her disabled person’s railcard, did not just cut the cost of travel but helped her get into shows and cinemas.

Although having Parkinson’s meant that Judie had to give up work, she has found herself doing all sorts of adventurous things she might never have done otherwise.

• Nerves & brain >> Parkinson's disease >> Over 12 years >> Geraldine - Interview 28 >> Geraldine had been on a dopamine agonist for 7 years but as her symptoms got worse she agreed to go on Sinemet. The result remarkable.

Geraldine was diagnosed in 1990. She was a single parent with three teenage children. She never-the-less succeeded in holding increasingly demanding executive jobs in the voluntary sector and was finally chief executive of the Charities Commission before retiring recently. And she is still working on many projects and committees.

• Nerves & brain >> Parkinson's disease >> 5-7 years >> Jean - Interview 33 >> Jean has been on Sinemet since her diagnosis 8 years ago. The ‘rocket’ which helps her so well is Madopar dispersible.

Jean had noticed jumping in one leg and general difficulty walking for at least two years before she was diagnosed with both Parkinsons Disease and ME, having at fist been told she had nothing wrong with her. To high doses of her medication resulted in her having hallucinations.