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In the season 3 premiere of the hit Apple TV series Shrinking, Parkinson’s disease takes center stage. The show’s main character Dr. Paul Rhoades, played by Harrison Ford, suffers from the disease. The show offers a realistic, nuanced portrayal of the condition’s progression. Rather than dramatizing it, Shrinking illustrates what families quietly experience every day: subtle decline, unpredictable symptoms, and the emotional complexity of living with a degenerative diagnosis.
The Reality of Living with Parkinson’s
In a powerful cameo, Michael J. Fox, the longtime celebrity face of Parkinson’s disease, joins Paul in a scene at a clinic in Sierra Madre and the two embark on a frank, and even at times funny, conversation about the slow moving progression of the disease. While Paul is beginning to struggle with basic tasks like putting toothpaste on a toothbrush and is developing a hand tremor, Michael J. Fox’s character is exhibiting more advanced symptoms of the disease – a shaking voice, balance issues, and even hallucinations. It’s a candid moment that shows just how debilitating and varying Parkinson’s can be.
Parkinson’s is the second most common neurodegenerative disease behind Alzheimer’s. Yet compared to Alzheimer’s, it receives far less visibility in the senior living world in Los Angeles and worldwide.
If you haven’t seen the show or don’t have Apple TV, you can see a clip of the episode on Youtube below:
While the show often uses humor to discuss this serious topic, their sentiment remains the same as all of us: F*ck Parkinson’s.
Finding Los Angeles Assisted Living with Parkinson’s
In Los Angeles and across the country, many of the more well-known senior resources around neurodegenerative disease are dedicated to Alzheimer’s, the most common diagnosis. While that support is critical, families navigating Parksinson’s often find fewer clear resources specifically tailored to their needs. Fortunately, great organizations and resources do exist.
Assisted Living Locators Los Angeles partners with an amazing local non-profit Parkinson’s LA (PCLA), which connects families with resources and support in the LA area. While you can find a limited offering of organizations like these to tap for knowledge, it’s even rarer to find guidance on assisted living options that are skilled in catering to those with Parkinson’s disease. Memory care units are plentiful, any mention of its less common cousin are few and far between – but they do exist in LA.
Communities may not have a Parkinson’s dedicated program, however several Los Angeles facilities stand out for their experience managing the disease as it progresses. And that’s where senior living advisors come in. We live and work in Los Angeles. We spend our time vetting communities, building relationships with staff and residents, and understanding which settings are best equipped to support your loved one. Not just at move-in, but as care needs evolve…
While the progression of Parkinson’s disease varies wildly from person to person, many of the core issues sufferers face remain the same – unpredictable changes in symptoms, limited condition-specific programming and confusing or conflicting information about care options. Local senior living advisors Laura Barrett and April Godales are your boots-on-the-ground resource for helping families identify the right Los Angeles communities and resources to become true partners in your loved ones care.
Don’t navigate an emotional and complicated process alone, Assisted Living Locators is here to offer local no-cost, unbiased help. Call us today at 310-853-8282 to learn more.
About Assisted Living Locators
Since 2003, thousands of families have been helped by Assisted Living Locators, one of the nation’s leading free senior living placement services. The Los Angeles team services clients from Glendale to Santa Monica, including West Hollywood, Century City, Westwood, and everything in between. The office also represents clients looking for seniors living south of Ventura Boulevard in the San Fernando Valley in neighborhoods such as Sherman Oaks, Encino, and Studio City. The Los Angeles office can be reached at assistedlivinglocators.com/contact-us.
