Living Well with Parkinson’s at Luther Village on the Park: Community and Support
When someone joins the Parkinson’s Peer Support Group at Luther Village on the Park, they join more than just a resident support group; they join a community that has become like family.
Week after week, residents and community members living with Parkinson’s and their care partners, come together around a shared understanding: this journey is easier and more meaningful when it is not faced alone. Over time, relationships deepen, trust grows, and what began as a place to gather becomes a place to belong.
For many adults over 55, a Parkinson’s diagnosis, whether personal or affecting someone they love, can raise questions, concerns, and uncertainty about the future. Parkinson’s is a complex condition, and no two experiences are the same.
As members of our Parkinson’s Peer Support Group often say:
“If you’ve met one person with Parkinson’s, you’ve met one person with Parkinson’s.”
This understanding, combined with the strength of connection, is at the heart of how Luther Village on the Park supports our residents and their families navigating Parkinson’s.
A Group That Became Family: How It All Began
The Parkinson’s Peer Support Group at Luther Village on the Park brings together residents who share a common goal: to live as fully and confidently as possible, supported by others who understand the journey. But what makes this group so unique, is the active interest of our residents, who helped create a group where people this support.
After being diagnosed with Parkinson's in 2015 and moving into Luther Village on the Park with his wife, Lois, in 2018, Leigh Steckley came to know a few residents who were also experiencing a Parkinson's diagnosis.
Interested in developing a community of support at the Village, Leigh and Lois took an active role in the development of the Parkinson's Peer Support group in 2019, supported by our previous Wellness Coordinator. They connected with community supports through the Parkinson's Society of Southwestern Ontario (PSSO) and what began as an opportunity to connect in their shared experience, turned into something more.
“This group has become like a family,” shared one resident of our Parkinson’s Peer Support Group, highlighting the common thread that continues to bring residents and their loved ones together.
These connections matter and learning in a safe environment is important. Parkinson’s can feel isolating; but within a consistent, caring community, residents are reminded that they are not alone and support is here for them.
Lasting Impact: Where the Group Is Today
The impact of this group is seen everyday with the connections our residents make with each other, while also being recognized within the wider Parkinson's community in Southwestern Ontario.
Despite a brief pause during the pandemic, today, the group includes more than 25 dedicated participants, who, week after week, show up not just for the program, but for each other.
The group continues to be supported further by our Wellness Coordinator, Lisette Garel, who works alongside the group and brings in community resources and educational opportunities to support continued learning and latest research in understanding Parkinson’s.
As one resident recently shared: “We’ve been as successful as we have because of one another.”
What People Living with Parkinson’s Want Others to Know
When asked what they would share with someone newly diagnosed or supporting a loved one, the message was clear:
You are not alone.
Find a community you can lean on.
Reach out for support because it matters.
Living with Parkinson’s means navigating both good days and bad ones, too. But learning about the condition, asking questions, doing your research, and seeking support are important steps to take.
Community makes the journey easier, and that is exactly what this group provides.
Moving Forward, Together
“It is helpful to get broader attention in the community. I want people to know how much we enjoy this group and how helpful it is,” shared one resident.
Whether you are living with Parkinson’s, supporting a family member, or simply seeking to learn more, the message from our community is clear and hopeful:
You don’t have to face Parkinson’s alone.