Managing the Cost of Chronic Illness – Parkinson’s News Today

Chronic illness is expensive. It costs money, time, and peace of mind. Whether youre sifting through your worries or counting the pennies in your pocket, illnesses affect all avenues of life.

Before the symptoms of a disease appear, one may go about daily life unencumbered by thoughts of self-preservation. But disease changes everything.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 90 percent of the countrys annual healthcare spending some $3.5 trillion is related to chronic illnesses such as diabetes, Alzheimers disease, and others.

With Parkinsons disease, the same costs apply. While the return is generally worth the investment, Parkinsons treatments are expensive. And people most often are hit with shocking bills at the same time theyre losing physical independence.

So how do you foot the bill? Where is the balance between finding the appropriate care and saving your pennies? What do you do when financial limitations find you?

For many PD patients, one big question is: Will I be able to keep my job as the disease progresses? Everyones situation is different, and theres no universal answer to this question. It depends on the job and how PD affects you.

My dad worked as a Realtor for most of his adult life, and he remains invested in that world. He grew up in the same area where he worked, and many of his clients were friends first. So I doubt hell ever entirely give up his profession. But he has certainly chosen to change his relationship with work.

One thing he noticed early on is that stress seems to drastically affect his PD symptoms. So adapting to the disease was never a debate. He just needed to determine how to move forward. His solution was to slow down and reduce the number of homes he sells. This means that his income has changed as well.

Luckily, my mom is a worker bee. Even when she has a day off, she fills her time with projects and goals. She continues to work full-time and hold down the fort. But the financial side of PD has been fluid and will continue to change. Will my parents have to downsize houses again one day? Sell some assets? What happens when my mom realizes shes in her 60s and cant work as much anymore?

Medical care is a complicated subject. If youre lucky enough to live in or near a city, the options allow you the privilege of choice. But what if you have to commute an hour each way and youre not comfortable with your driving abilities anymore? What if you live in a remote area of the country and medical care is limited? The greatest cost in this situation seems to be time your time and the time of a loved one.

Since undergoing deep brain stimulation, an expensive surgery, Dad continues to see his neurologist to tune the hardware. He always has a companion for these visits, which increase his quality of life. But he gives up time to travel and money for gas, and he probably pays something for each doctor visit. Sometimes hell also see an herbalist (the witch doctor, as he says) and a chiropractor. And even with insurance, he spends a lot of money on medication.

My mom was kind enough to share some thoughts about the cost of Parkinsons disease. She said that while theyre doing fine, it seems that fun money inevitably turns into bill money. Yet she remains positive. She, like my dad, continuously adapts to the changes that come with chronic illness.

She ended a recent email on a positive note: NONETHELESS, we are doing alright!

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Note: Parkinsons News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Parkinsons News Today or its parent company, BioNews Services, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to Parkinsons disease.

Mary Beth is a Freelance Writer who specializes in personal narratives. Her work focuses on the outdoors and the transformative powers of nature. But when her Dad was diagnosed with Parkinsons in 2013, her search to understand the disease materialized through language.

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Managing the Cost of Chronic Illness - Parkinson's News Today