Every April, Parkinson’s Awareness Month brings more attention to a condition that affects movement, speech, balance, energy, and daily routines. For many families, it’s also a good time to take a closer look at what support may help now—whether symptoms are mild, changing, or starting to interfere with safety at home.

APEX Health works with adults living with Parkinson’s across Illinois through home health, palliative care, chronic care management, and non-medical home care. As needs evolve, the right mix of in-home care for Parkinson's patients helps them stay safer, more comfortable, and more independent at home.

What Parkinson’s Awareness Month in April Unveils

Every April is Parkinson's Awareness Month, bringing together patients, caregivers, researchers, and advocates around a shared goal: making Parkinson's disease more visible and less isolating.

Parkinson's disease affects over 10 million people worldwide and over 1.1 million in the U.S., according to the American Parkinson Disease Association. It’s the second-most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer's.

What makes April significant for the Parkinson's community?

• World Parkinson’s Day has been observed on April 11 since 1997, honoring Dr. James Parkinson, who first described the condition in 1817.
• Social media campaigns like #Unshakeable and #IAmMoreThanMyParkinsons help patients and caregivers feel less alone.
• Advocacy efforts in April help progress discussions at the state and federal levels.
• Awareness campaigns also remind policymakers and research institutions that Parkinson’s deserves ongoing attention and investment.

For families in Chicago and across Illinois, April awareness campaigns do more than raise money. They create a sense of community that extends well beyond a single month.

The Parkinson's Foundation Helpline is available at 1-800-4PD-INFO and provides free support in both English and Spanish. For Illinois families navigating early diagnosis or advanced care decisions, this accessible, multilingual support reflects the culturally diverse reality of the Chicago metropolitan area.

Parkinson’s Awareness Events and Support Opportunities in Illinois

April in Illinois brings a range of local opportunities to engage with the Parkinson's community. There are practical ways for newly diagnosed patients, long-term caregivers, and healthcare professionals to participate in April events.

Noteworthy Chicago-Area Events

The PJ Parkinson’s Symposium in Oak Brook offers a full day of education for patients, families, and clinicians, with sessions on symptom management, care planning, and research updates.

JCC Chicago’s Nia for Parkinson’s classes give people living with Parkinson’s a movement-based option created for their needs, and interest often rises in April as more families look for local support.

Moving Day events will take place in 20 cities across the country this fall, with Chicago-area participants often joining walks along the lakefront. These events bring together physical activity, community engagement, and fundraising efforts.

Ways to Get Involved This April

Want to get involved? Here are some concrete steps anyone in the Illinois Parkinson's community can take during April:

1. Attend the PJ Parkinson's Symposium or a local education webinar.
2. Join a charity walk along the Chicago lakefront or a cycling event tied to Parkinson's research.
3. Share awareness content using campaign hashtags on social media.
4. Contact a support group through the Parkinson's Foundation or APDA.
5. Host a fundraising event such as a community breakfast, golf outing, or athletic challenge.
6. Contact your state representative to advocate for Parkinson's research funding.

On the advocacy side, NIH investment in Parkinson's research has stayed relatively flat at around $330 million per year over the last five years. State-level advocacy during April can drive change, as seen with California’s Assembly Bill 829 and its proposed research fund. Illinois families and providers are encouraged to contact state representatives this month to advocate for similar research commitments.

Support for People Living with Parkinson’s and Their Caregivers

Living with Parkinson's disease creates demands that extend well beyond managing motor symptoms. Over time, caregivers may also need their own support such as respite, clearer communication with the broader care team, and help planning for changes in mobility, cognition, and daily care needs.

APDA has raised and invested more than $338 million for Parkinson's disease support and research, making it one of the most established community resources available to Illinois families. Parkinson's Foundation and APDA support groups throughout Cook County, DuPage County, and the North Shore provide peer support and education for patients and caregivers.

How Parkinson’s Symptoms Can Change Everyday Routines

Parkinson's disease is a progressive brain disorder that impacts movement. It develops when neurons in the brain that produce dopamine start to deteriorate, disrupting the signals that coordinate smooth, controlled movement.

Motor symptoms are the most recognized signs of Parkinson's disease:

• Tremors, often starting in one hand or finger
• Muscle stiffness or rigidity
• Slowed movement (bradykinesia)
• Balance problems and postural instability
• Changes in gait, including shuffling steps

Non-motor symptoms are equally significant and often overlooked:

• Loss of smell
• Sleep disturbances
• Depression and anxiety
• Cognitive changes
• Difficulty swallowing

Some changes aren’t as visible but still have a major effect on daily life. Those with Parkinson’s may experience freezing episodes while walking or turning, difficulty getting up from a bed, chair, or toilet, and reduced hand dexterity that makes writing, buttoning clothes, or handling utensils harder.

Pain, muscle cramping, constipation, and blood pressure fluctuations may also become part of the day-to-day burden as the condition progresses.

Parkinson’s Can Affect Mood, Stress, and Daily Life

It’s common for those with Parkinson’s to experience depression and anxiety, often appearing before motor symptoms. These aren’t just emotional responses to diagnosis but neurological aspects of the disease. Understanding this allows families and care teams to respond more effectively.

To improve quality of life, try these strategies:

• Schedule medications consistently to avoid symptom fluctuations.
• Modify the home environment to reduce fall risk.
• Use communication tools or apps to assist with tremor or voice changes.
• Exercise regularly to slow symptom progression, as research shows.
• Connect with a licensed clinical social worker for emotional support through a home health team.

Small changes in care and routine can reduce stress, support independence, and make each day easier to manage.

Signs It May Be Time to Bring More Help Into the Home

An earlier Parkinson’s diagnosis gives patients and families more time to act. It allows treatment to start sooner, supports safer daily routines, and makes it easier to plan for changes before symptoms interfere more heavily with independence.

In earlier stages, many people can still manage daily, as their symptoms are mild. In later stages, walking, balance, transfers, and personal care often require more support. Treatment may include medication management, therapy, exercise, and, for some patients, deep brain stimulation.

Parkinson’s Research Progress and What It Means for Families

Research remains a focal point of Parkinson’s Awareness Month because better treatment depends on steady funding, clinical studies, and wider public support.

The Parkinson's Foundation awarded more than $4.3 million across 44 research grants in its most recent 2025 annual report. The Michael J. Fox Foundation, whose Chicago Run/Walk series launched in 2017 and helped increase local Parkinson's visibility significantly, awarded 108 grants totaling $62.4 million in October and November 2025 alone.

For patients and families, this work matters beyond headlines. Research can lead to better treatment options, earlier detection, stronger symptom management, and more personalized care over time.

Here are some practical next steps for patients and families this April:

1. Attend a local or virtual Parkinson’s event.
2. Save the Parkinson’s Foundation Helpline: 1-800-4PD-INFO.
3. Ask a neurologist or movement disorder specialist about clinical trial eligibility.
4. Review home safety and ask whether a home health assessment may help.
5. Talk with a care coordinator about palliative support if symptoms progress.

Palliative care and hospice aren’t the same. It can be used alongside ongoing treatment to help manage symptoms, reduce stress, and improve quality of life during serious long-term illness.