Parkinson's, Christmas and Loneliness 

It's almost that time again, the children can't wait for Santa to come, the parents are still busy distributing the presents under the Christmas tree, the grandparents are sitting in the living room, already looking forward to the sparkle in the children's eyes. It smells like cinnamon cookies, and soft Christmas music is playing in the background. And as if by magic, a celebratory mood slowly settles over the city.

Scene change:

It's cold in the small apartment, your pension is barely enough to get you through the month and so you leave the heating off this Christmas Eve. You haven't put up a Christmas tree in a long time, why should you? You have no children, no grandchildren who visit you for Christmas, the handful of cinnamon stars you have placed on the living room table in front of you come from the discount bakery around the corner, the television is on and some well-meaning presenter is trying to bring at least a little Christmas spirit into your home to conjure up. But she doesn't want to succeed. Anyway, she doesn't know anything about your Parkinson's, your limitations,  Pain, your loneliness and your sadness. A deep sadness that takes possession of you when you look out the window and the laughter of the children from the house across the street reminds you of the images when you were still healthy. 

That's how it will be for many of our fellow sufferers on Christmas Eve.

PARKINSonLINE eV, one of the few self-help groups that operate almost exclusively on the Internet, has developed a wonderful idea to conjure up warmth, closeness and solidarity in the small, cold room.

You have set up a Zoom chat on your website's forum, open from 14pm to midnight on Christmas Eve, which aims to replace cold and loneliness with a sense of connection, understanding and compassion. A feeling that “Parkis” has always been ours and has distinguished us.

What can we, who consider ourselves lucky to be surrounded by our loved ones, contribute to this? Take a little time and stop by the chat, send your Christmas greetings, maybe sing a song with the whole family for the lonely at home and show that there are people who are thinking of them.

Surely you know one or the other from your circle of acquaintances or your self-help group who you can make happy with it. Quite a few would certainly like to be part of the chat, but there is a lack of technology and know-how. If you know someone like that, be so kind and offer your help, lend your notebook, explain zoom - whatever - but use the fact that the ubiquitous Parkinson's leaves you enough strength for those who are already having a harder time to stand by.

All information about the Christmas chat from PARKINsonLINE you can find in our event Calendar.

With this in mind, we wish you all a merry and blessed Christmas and a fulfilling year 2023.

Your team from the Parkinson Journal.