Early retirement or asked for accommodation of disability

[cheerspark]

I am struggling with these two issues now. Other than finance issues, what were your concerns & experience?

[Blondir]

Hello Cheerspark - reply in two parts

I faced this problem about 2.5 years ago - as UK Quality Manager for an Engineering Services Company I had 22 locations spread across the UK and I also supported Western Europe with development of a particular Aerospace System It was busy and I loved it but the stress - particularly driving started to tell and although I didn't want to give up

I had an agreement to work from home which I negotiated 18 months previously but I woke up one morning and thought 'Why am I doing this". It was time to take stock as my family had been 'on my case for a while. working from home had initially been on a 'gentlemen's agreement' with my boss but I had decided I wanted my problems 'out in the open' - then no one can claim they didn't know. HR were very helpful and we set up a formal agreement with 6 monthly reviews of my condition - if your employer is sympathetic it will be easier if they are not retirement may be the way forward .

Hope this helps - Regards Blondir

[Blondir]

Hi again Cheerspark - part 2

When I took the decision to retire early I worked 4 months notice not the 1 I was contracted to - as appreciation of the support I had received and giving a bit more time. I retired from full time work in July 2012 - and it has helped . I have still kept 'doing a bit' by way of consulting - which kept me in contact - without the pressure

In my case I planned my exit and what happened afterwards - If you think your at a stage where retirement is becoming a consideration I would think about discussing it with you employer, also find a good Independent Financial Adviser if you don't already have one - the only time PD can be an advantage is when you sort out your pension it is possible to get enhanced payments on account of your condition and above all else - have a plan -I have never missed work - I miss the people I worked with - but I have no regrets about going early - other than it was as a result of PD

[soup]

My husband had to take 6 months sick leave due to depression which was his worst symptom at diagnosis. During that time he was able to rethink his reasons for working, coming to terms with the overwhelming fatigue, loss of self motivation and just getting his head around being ill, which wasn't really within his experience.

His employers supported him through all these stages, bought technical aids to help him at work, and offered him counselling. They couldn't have been better to him but after six months he had begun to realise that his old treadmill was an unsustainable way of life and if he only had a few active years left, he didn't want to spend them at work.

We knew none of the neighbours where we lived because both of us worked 60+ hours a week and had know time to 'bump into' people and chat. We didn't have the time to commit to local groups and finding friend that way either. So, I took early retirement with a reduction in pension, and he was granted early retirement on ground of ill health, so very little reduction in pension.

The reduction in stress, the chance to have holidays outside the school holidays ( I was a teacher), the downsizing and moving to somewhere we always wanted to live and then getting actively involved in the local branch of Parkinson's UK has change our lives around. We now take 40 minutes to walk to the local town because 20 mins is spent getting out of the road and chatting to everybody.

John still has Parkinson's, he didn't have much chance to plan and exit because he didn't really function well before the retirement, and the reduced money was a transient worry but humans are very adaptable and I would advise anybody to make the best of a bad job. John only got support at work because he was up front with the diagnosis. He didn't have a manual job however and it was the sort of job you could only fill from a relatively small pool of applicants.

That was 6 years ago and he is still active and doesn't regret the changes at all.

[esrob]

Hi Cheerspark,

Not only do I think it important that one should come out, but it is also important to educate people about PD. We had a young social worker come to see us to assess what he might possibly to do help us. I asked him what he knew about PD and he admitted that he knew nothing. I then asked him whether he had the time to let me tell him something about it, and he was pleased for me to do so. I asked him how he thought I looked that day and he agreed that I looked perfectly healthy. My husband and I then explained that not only was it a case of one day being entirely different to the next, but it could be one hour different to the next. When he left, he thanked us for helping him to understand this complicated and wretchedly frustrating illness. He felt that it was time well spent. The more we talk to people about this, the more it helps them as well as us.

[Blondir]

I agree absolutely - my next door neigbour has PD (She diagnosed me before I went to see my GP) - She hosted a PD awerness session at a local daycare centre and the PD specialist who gave a presentation asked for People with Parkinsons to go with her to local hospitals as support during training sessions - so that nursing staff in particular got it 'from the Horses mouth' from a PwP - my neighbour nd I were falling over each otther to get on the list

When invited I am happy (?) to tell anye who will listen about how PD affects me in particular and others in general

We all learn how to cope with it in our own way - the only other tip I would offer Cheerspark is don't see retirement as defeat - its a change of direction and something to take advantage of as esrob and many others have found out - there is life after diagnosis , make the most off each small success - and don't give up trying and don't be shy about telling others about your PD - increasing awareness is important to us all

Best wishes

Blondir

[cheerspark]

Thanks Blondir, Soup & esrob for their sharing. I am always proud of my job & my ability to support the family. It upsets me to think that the two choices opened to me now are forced & I am actually under the control of the PD monster. How I wish I could have other way out.

By the way, I understand these are normal anger response. The priority is to get the most from the situation now. However, my rational mind are not settling....

[judam9]

i really never gave finances a thought. which we are both lucky for . but it does seem like most of the time, i just don't have much time to do everything. but i guess that's called retirement. i do have fun

on the computer. especially , reading about the experiences that come from people. you people. i guess most of our recreation is called dr's appointments. i have learned more here on this site, then anywhere else. including dr's visits.

i guess i just keep living my daily life one day at a time. and tomorrow never gets here. and i guess that's about it. i'm just not concerned. but being a wife, i guess you don't actually retire anyhow. which i kind of was looking forward too. but then again , it's makes be feel good to know that i'm a useful human being , and getting something accomplished is reward in it self. i'm not a traveler , so that's not a matter to think about. life generally takes care of itself/. and i'm never bored. good luck.

[Prayingforacure]

I am curious as to how long this man had pd when he started taking the protein enzyme? I did get my husband started on it yesterday. I pray it will help him.