Lianna Marie - Answers for Elders

Liana Marie

Lianna Marie
Founder, All About Parkinson’s
Email: lianna@allaboutparkinsons.com
AllAboutParkinsons.com

A trained nurse, Lianna Marie served as her mom’s caregiver and advocate for thirty years through the many stages of Parkinson’s. She founded All About Parkinson’s, an online community that has connected and helped thousands of people with the disease, their families, and their caregivers.

Her books (The Complete Guide for People With Parkinson’s Disease and Their Loved Ones, Everything You Need to Know About Parkinson’s Disease, and Everything You Need to Know About Caregiving for Parkinson’s Disease), have been sold in over 50 countries and provide practical, easy-to-understand information to make living with Parkinson’s easier. Marie frequently speaks to fellow caregivers, guardians, and nurse practitioners.

Born and raised near Toronto, Marie now lives with her husband in the Pacific Northwest. She is a member of the Author’s Guild and the Pacific Northwest Writers Association. When she’s not writing or speaking, you’ll find her in the swimming pool, training for her next competition.

Finding Purpose with Parkinson’s

Parkinson’s expert Lianna Marie says having a purpose improves your quality of life while coping with Parkinson’s, and describes ways her mom found purpose and meaning on her Parkinson’s journey.

Turning Your Broken Heart into Art – Using Creativity to Cope with Parkinson’s

Parkinson’s expert Lianna Marie talks about artistic and creative expression to help her mother cope with Parkinson’s.

When You’re Dealt a Bad Hand – Dealing with the Disappointments of Parkinson’s

Parkinson’s expert Lianna Marie talks about acknowledging that disappointments will happen, but suggests trying to gain something with every loss.

Embarrassed about Parkinson’s – Managing the Stigma Surrounding Parkinson’s Disease

Lianna Marie talks about coming to terms with the embarrassment that comes with having a chronic illness such as Parkinson's that changes your life.

Standing Strong With Parkinson’s

Lianna Marie, CEO of AllAboutParkinsons.com, joins Suzanne to talk about how to be both visibly and emotionally strong, even with our bodies becoming more frail over time. Holding on to inner strength and resilience, and retain our empowerment.

Empowered With Parkinson’s

Lianna Marie, CEO of AllAboutParkinsons.com, joins Suzanne to explain what it means to be empowered with Parkinson's. It's the ability to be able to listen and consult with doctors, but decide to trust your gut, know your body, and speak up about what's working and not working to improve your quality of life.

Parkinson’s: How Do We Focus?

Lianna Marie talks about keeping focus for those with Parkinson's and their caregivers. When someone with Parkinson's is going along on their day and the wheels shut down — your legs stop moving, whatever it is — focus on the thing that you want to happen, as opposed to the thing that you don't.

Parkinson’s: How Do We Cope?

Lianna Marie talks about her personal experiences with her mom, a trial by fire learning over time how to adjust to this chronic illness.

Faithing Fears in the Face of a Chronic Diagnosis

Parkinson’s disease expert Lianna Marie talks about how faith helps loved ones facing a terminal illness and their caregivers.

Fear and Loneliness in the Face of a Chronic Diagnosis

Parkinson’s disease expert Lianna Marie talks about fear and loneliness for loved ones facing a terminal illness and their caregivers.

Fear and Anger in the Face of a Chronic Diagnosis

Parkinson’s disease expert Lianna Marie talks about fear and anger for loved ones facing a terminal illness and their caregivers.

Fear and Denial in the Face of a Chronic Diagnosis

Parkinson’s disease expert Lianna Marie talks about fear and denial for loved ones facing a terminal illness and their caregivers.

Adjusting Our Expectations: Parkinson’s Caregiving During the Holidays

Joining Suzanne this hour is Lianna Marie, founder of AllAboutParkinsons.com, who has written a new book called "The Parkinson's Path." In this segment, Lianna...

Takeaways from a Parkinson Caregiver’s Journey

Joining Suzanne this hour is Lianna Marie, founder of AllAboutParkinsons.com, who has written a new book called "The Parkinson's Path." In this segment, Lianna...

From Shocked to “We Don’t Have Time for Parkinson’s”

Lianna Marie, founder of AllAboutParkinsons.com, describes what it was like when her mom was diagnosed with Parkinson's: "I was in my mid teens at the time, and I had not noticed anything "wrong" with my mom, so when she told us she had Parkinson's disease, it was an absolute, complete shock."

Diagnosed with Parkinson’s? Learn about The Parkinson’s Path

AllAboutParkinsons.com founder Lianna Marie has written a book about the emotional journey for those living with a chronic illness like Parkinson's. People share similar frustrations, sadness, and loss. Lianna's book presents the 30 most common emotions that they went through together, how they worked through them, and what they did about them. She then offers some practical ways to get through each of the challenges.

Parkinson’s Path: Finding Meaning with Lianna Marie

Lianna Marie talks about finding meaning when you've been diagnosed with an illness like Parkinson's.

Inspirational People with Parkinson’s, with Lianna Marie

Lianna Marie talks about inspirational people with Parkinson's. We talk about having hope, and looking up to people who are going through the same things. Michael J. Fox, of course, but also Jimmy Choi from American Ninja Warrior, who was diagnosed when he was 27. Jim Morris, the inspiration for the sports movie The Rookie, developed a form of Parkinson's due to sports concussions.

Parkinson’s Path: Becoming Grateful, with Lianna Marie

Lianna Marie talks about gratitude. Why is it important and how is it possible? Studies suggest a sense of gratitude is connected to health. Grateful people sleep better and it reduces stress.

Parkinson’s Path: Depression, with Lianna Marie

Lianna Marie talks about depression as it pertains to Parkinson's. Research today shows that it is a symptom rather a response to the illness. Up to 50% of people with Parkinson's are suffering from clinical depression, from the chemical imbalances triggered by the disease.

Parkinson’s Path: Being Happy, with Lianna Marie

As part of the Parkinson's Path, Lianna Marie asks “How do we find happiness?” A large part of happiness is under our control. We have to choose to be happy. Not to say that life will be joyful every day with Parkinson's, but let's define what happiness would look like – is it having a productive life, staying connected with my loved ones, stay in my job longer?

Parkinson’s Path: Power of Faith, with Lianna Marie

As part of the Parkinson's Path, Lianna Marie says Hope and faith are different: The majority of people have a faith in something higher than themselves. It played a huge role for my mother's battle with Parkinson's. The disease can be so overwhelming, but a lot of people point to faith as a means of rescue.

Parkinson’s Path: Enough Hope, with Lianna Marie

As part of the Parkinson's Path, Lianna Marie says that hope is a key part of everything, fighting illnesses or even difficulties in life. We developed an initial "H.O.P.E. test" to assess attitudes and feelings about Hopefulness, Optimism, Practicing acceptance, and Enlisting the help of others.

Parkinson’s Path: Having Hope, with Lianna Marie

Lianna Marie says that hope is crucial for those diagnosed with Parkinson's. Having hope can be more important than medication or medical procedures. Simply having hope makes your brain release endorphins that fight pain, an asset for Parkinson's, so we can physically change by changing our mindset. And there has also been an explosion of treatments in the last decade.

Parkinson’s Path: After the Diagnosis with Lianna Marie

Lianna Marie describes her family experiences with Parkinson's following the diagnosis of the disease. Her mother's diagnosis was confirmed at 49 years old, when Lianna Marie was in her teens. Her mother had an arresting tremor, and the doctors assessed it as "the better kind" of Parkinson's, and she was able to work another 10-15 years. Diagnosis for everyone is different.

Parkinson’s Path: Introduction with Lianna Marie

Lianna Marie describes her personal experiences with Parkinson's, her mother having lived with the disease for 30 years.

Everything You Need To Know About Parkinson’s Disease

Lianna Marie is the author of Everything You Need To Know About Parkinson's Disease and Everything You Need to Know About Caregiving for Parkinson's Disease. Her mother was diagnosed 30 years ago, back when books on the topic were written for doctors, rather than patients and caregivers. There are different types of Parkinson's, every case is different, and there are other neuro-degenerative diseases similar to Parkinson's.

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Answers for Elders