Tips for doing your shopping when you have Parkinson's

• "Use the internet for heavy, larger shopping. Stick to small, lightweight items for everyday trips."
• "My mum goes shopping first thing in the morning, so it’s not so crowded."
• "I find shopping in local independent shops pays dividends. I’ve found staff are generally more willing to help."
• "Never rush at the till – it’s yours while you’re being served. I try to memorise where I keep my wallet, bank cards and supermarket loyalty cards, but if people behind me have to wait a little, so be it!”
• "I bought a metal wallet, which has saved me grief when trying to get my cards out. It opens like a fan and makes it easy to get out what I need.
• "Before I go out, I put only the card or the cash I want to be visible in a change purse. Then, if I have to offer it to someone to take a payment from it, they can only see that.”
• "I bought my husband a leather holder for his bus pass, which hangs around his neck. It makes life easier as he doesn’t have to fumble when he goes out to the shops.”
• "My dad wears his metal badge saying he has Parkinson’s. He feels it helps, so he doesn’t have to explain why he’s slow."

• "I now wear my Parkinson’s badge when I’m out and about so people can be made aware. Only last week when I was at the checkout in the supermarket, the cashier noticed my badge and offered to pack all my bags for me. In the end, we did them together and she followed my lead in regards to speed.”
• "I would say that making sure you have a good trolley is essential. It sounds obvious, but even able-bodied people struggle when you have a dodgy trolley.”
• "I have slept in many supermarket car parks while the boss did the shopping – until I recently acquired a mobility scooter and now, just try and stop me! So, I thoroughly recommend getting a transportable mobility scooter or using Shopmobility.”
• "My husband uses a three-wheeled walker, which has a large bag on the front.”
• "For clothes, I only consider trying things on if the changing rooms are quiet and spacious and there are staff available to help.”
• "I go to shops that will bring clothes to the dressing room for me. Stores are more than willing to do this.”
• "When my other half shops for clothes, he wears items that are easy to get off. We do the top half or bottom half first, collecting all the possible clothes for that part and taking them all into the changing room so that he only has to undress once.”
• "Some stores are great and let my husband come into the changing room with me. Beats him joining the other men sitting or loitering outside!"

Do you have tips you'd like to share? Get in touch with us at [email protected] and we'll post the best ones online!