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 talks about adjusting our personal expectations around the holidays, which she learned from 30 years living with her Mom through Parkinson's.

Lianna says, "We create this massive set of expectations for holidays, then we're wondering why we're so let down. How about we just change that narrative and say, 'Okay, just look my mom, what are her favorite things?' Those things were not things, they were people. Surround Mom with her family. Her grandkids, for example, were her therapy. We put them around her, and she was happy as a clam. We didn't really need a heck of a lot else. Okay, maybe some turkey and some sweets. She loved the desserts. But there wasn't really a heck of a lot else that we needed to do in terms of making it a happy time for her.

"I was the one that was complicating things a lot. She wasn't, she was just there living with Parkinson's, and as the dementia set in more and more, we had to bring the holiday spirit to the long-term care home. We had to bring the music there. We set things up there. My aunt put on dance time at the long-term care home. She would organize these kinds of things, like Christmas music on the piano. She would come in and play piano and bring the music to the people. When I felt that I was so alone, I had to remember that A) I wasn't, that that was just my imagination, that my family was all there, and B) I needed to dial down those expectations of what Christmas once was, that we can still get the essence of what made it so special.

"it really did make us slow down and put into perspective what's most important, and that can be applicable to anyone, really. Christmas time, and Thanksgiving, are times when you look at where you are in life, what's most important, and oftentimes that's family or friends. For my mom, at least, those were the most important things to her."

Lianna's book "The Complete Guide for People With Parkinson’s Disease and Their Loved Ones" was written for people who may be newly diagnosed or someone that knows someone who's newly diagnosed. The caregiving book, "Everything You Need to Know About Caregiving for Parkinson’s Disease," is for people who are caring. Her upcoming book, "The Parkinson's Path," should be available in early 2023. Her books are available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and wherever books are sold. Hear more of Lianna's podcasts at Answers for Elders, and visit her website or AllAboutParkinsons.com to learn more.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.