Shopping with Parkinson's

Pearls for Parkinson's: Tips for Daily Living with PD. 

To watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/BzNh-_oYV5k

A trip to the grocery store, pharmacy, or shopping center can be more challenging when living with Parkinson’s disease. Crowds, long walks, fatigue, busy environments, and carrying purchases can quickly turn a simple errand into an exhausting experience.

In this week’s Pearls for Parkinson’s, we share practical strategies to make shopping easier and less stressful. Learn tips for planning ahead, shopping during your best “ON” times, managing fatigue, navigating crowded spaces, and using tools that can help conserve energy.

A little preparation can go a long way toward making shopping safer, more comfortable, and more enjoyable.

Tune in to this week’s episode for practical tips to help you shop with greater confidence and independence: 

To support more programs like this: https://wiparkinson.app.neoncrm.com/forms/support-pearls4pd

Wisconsin Parkinson Association 
website: https://wiparkinson.org/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@wiparkinson
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wiparkinson/
instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wiparkinson/

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:04

Welcome to Pearls for Parkinson's. Here is this week's Daily Living Tip.

SPEAKER_00 0:11

Hello, friends, and welcome back to Pearls for Parkinson's. For many people, a trip to the grocery store sounds simple, but if you live with Parkinson's, you know it can come with unique challenges. Grocery shopping may need a new strategy and not more willpower. Let's start with timing. If possible, shop during your better on times when medication's working and movement feels easier. Many people also do better earlier in the day when the energy is high and stores are less crowded. Mid morning on a weekday is often easier than evenings or weekends. Next, use a list, a simple shopping list organized by sections like produce, dairy, frozen, or household items can reduce that backtracking and mental fatigue that you might encounter. Less wandering often means less exhaustion. Some people also find it helpful to use a grocery store app to build a cart ahead of time. Pre-ordering online can save energy. It can reduce the time in the store and make shopping feel much more manageable. Another helpful pull is to use a cart even if you don't need it or need many items. It'll just give you some more support throughout your journey through the store. A grocery cart can improve your confidence. It can give you a place to lean lightly if needed, and it helps pace your walking and reduce the strain of carrying a basket. Now think a little bit about the environment. Busy stores can often feel overstimulating. Noise, people moving quickly, crowded aisles, and constant choices can increase stress and fatigue. If you begin to feel rushed, remind yourself you do not need to move at anybody else's pace. Pause, take a breath, and reset. If you're struggling with freezing gait, when your feet get stuck, stop, stand tall, shift your weight back and forth gently, and restart with one intentional step. Some people do well with stepping toward a floor tile line or aiming for a visual target ahead. Trying to force movement while panicked often makes freezing worse. Checkout lines can be especially stressful. If people are behind you or the line is moving fast, it's easy to feel pressured. Remember that you are allowed to take your time. Keep both feet grounded, use the cart for light support, and focus on the task one thing at a time. Pain, bagging, or moving forward. If self-chalkout feels rushed or overwhelming, a cashier lane may be easier. And another smart option is to shop with a friend, a spouse, or a family member. You can divide and conquer. One person gets the produce while the other handles pantry items, or one shops while the other one checks out. Shopping together can really help reduce that fatigue, shorten the trip, and make the experience just much more enjoyable. Reaching and lifting can also be a challenge. Make sure you ask for help with the items on high shelves or healthy products. Store employees are there to assist, and using help is a smart strategy. And lastly, it's okay to change how you shop. Many stores offer curbside pickup and car delivery. You order through the app, drive to the store, and groceries are brought right to your vehicle. This can be an excellent option on lower energy days or when symptoms are just more active. Delivery to your home can be helpful as well. Independence doesn't always mean doing everything alone or the old way. Sometimes it means using the tools available to make life better and work better now. Thank you for joining me today on Pearls for Parkinson's. If this episode could help someone you know, please share it with them and join me next Monday for more Pearls for Parkinson's.

SPEAKER_01 3:58

The Wisconsin Parkinson Association is a grassroots organization funded by people like you. To support more local programming like this, visit wiparkinson.org.