About five years ago, Dan began noticing a slight limp. It wasn’t something he paid much attention to at first, though friends and family noticed it before he did. After visiting his primary care physician, he was referred to a neurologist. A brain scan revealed changes consistent with Parkinson’s disease, leading to his diagnosis.
At the time, Dan was already attending physical therapy for back pain and asked whether they offered Parkinson’s-specific exercises or treatments. The answer was no. He called several other therapy providers and received similar responses—until one therapist mentioned Parkinson’s Pointe.
Dan reached out immediately.
“Sarah scheduled an assessment right away,” he recalls. “She was most helpful, kind, and empathetic.”
Based on that assessment, Sarah recommended Strength & Balance, Yoga, and Tai Chi classes. Nearly a year later, those remain Dan’s favorites. Since then, he has also added Dance, Cycling, and occasionally Ping-Pong to his weekly routine.
The impact has been significant. While many Parkinson’s resources recommend at least 150 minutes of physical activity each week, Dan now averages nearly 420 minutes of physical activity through Parkinson’s Pointe programs.
“I know they’re great for my health, and they’re fun,” he says.
But for Dan, the benefits extend far beyond exercise.
“What I love most about Parkinson’s Pointe is all the wonderful instructors. Without exception, they are highly skilled, patient, kind, and dedicated to helping us thrive and keep the disease at bay as much as possible. They do it all with love and empathy.”
One recent highlight was Parkinson’s Pointe’s Spinathon event, where Dan invited his sister, Laura, and his daughter to join him.
“They were blown away by the vibe just walking in the door,” Dan says. “And even more so after meeting the staff and participants.” Laura even jumped on a bike for part of the event.
Parkinson’s Pointe came into Dan’s life during a particularly difficult chapter. Shortly before finding the program, he lost his wife and best friend of 30 years to esophageal cancer. The grief was overwhelming, bringing months of brain fog and worsening dyskinesia that left him feeling temporarily disabled.
“Finding Parkinson’s Pointe when I did was of great benefit to me for getting my life back,” he says.
Laura has seen that transformation firsthand:
“Parkinson’s Pointe has saved Dan’s life. It gives him a reason to leave the house and something to look forward to every day. He tells us about the classes and instructors all of the time! I don’t think he would be doing as well as he is without you all.”
Today, Dan is stronger, more active, and deeply connected to a community that supports him every step of the way.
“Parkinson’s Pointe rocks,” Dan says. “I know the instructors truly care about all of us as people, and they genuinely love what they’re doing.”
