The Vista Blog

Bob Coughlin lived in his home in Ridgewood with his wife for nearly four decades when she was diagnosed with dementia. As her condition progressed, Bob found himself struggling to provide the care she needed, particularly after receiving his own diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease in 2019. When caregiving became too much for Bob to handle alone, his wife moved to an assisted-living community.

“It was very difficult,” Bob said. To cope with his grief regarding his wife’s dementia and his Parkinson’s diagnosis, Bob sought therapy at LiveWell Counseling, which marked the beginning of his healing journey and helped to bring him comfort when his wife later passed away in 2022.

“I’ve spoken to other people about bereavement, and they all say the same thing: ‘You gotta get through this. It’ll be over,’” he said. “But it doesn’t happen that way. It changes you and becomes part of your new life. The person you’re grieving never really goes away. They’re always there.”

Bob credits his therapist for helping him heal by teaching him to redefine his thinking and adjust to his new reality. “I don’t think I could have gone through it without her,” he said.

She also helped him come to terms with his Parkinson’s diagnosis and view his condition in a more logical light by avoiding what he calls “catastrophe thinking.”

“In my thought process, I take everything to the worst-case result and think it’s going to happen tomorrow,” he said. “I don’t think that way anymore.” This shift in mindset helped Bob manage his anxiety and the fear he felt each time he experienced a Parkinson’s symptom.

In addition to reframing his thought process and nurturing his mental wellness, Bob enrolled in our innovative Parkinson’s program to address his physical challenges and rebuild his confidence. With the help of an expert physical therapist, Bob began the LVST BIG treatment right in the comfort of his Vista apartment. The intensive therapy helps Parkinson’s patients improve balance, motor skills, and mobility through a series of exercises that focus on exaggerating movements.

“I started to lose my confidence in walking,” he said. “I used to walk a lot, and one day I realized that everyone was passing me by.”

Through BIG therapy, Bob drastically improved his ability to walk and perform simple daily tasks. “It used to take me half an hour just to put a shirt on,” he said. “But now by learning to use tools like a button hook, I’m able to do it much more easily.” Bob also restored his handwriting, which had become illegible due to the motor challenges of Parkinson’s. “One day, I looked at my signature and didn’t recognize it,” he said. “But through therapy, I learned to make bigger movements and eventually got my handwriting back.”

In addition to BIG, Bob participated in a program designed to help those with Parkinson’s learn to speak loudly and clearly – LSVT LOUD. Because Parkinson’s can make you speak more softly, Bob learned techniques to project his voice. “I regained my confidence,” he said.

Aside from receiving nurturing mental health care and healing physical and speech therapy through our comprehensive continuum of services, Bob also enjoys a vibrant lifestyle at our premier CCRC, The Vista. “Living here has made life much more convenient,” he said. “It’s less expensive than maintaining a home, and I don’t have to worry about things like paying for utilities, mowing the lawn, or fixing the roof. If you have a problem, they’re there.”

Because The Vista is a continuing care retirement community, Bob has access to Christian Health’s continuum of care should he eventually need it, which gives him peace of mind for the future. “That was the selling point,” he said. “I didn’t want my sons to have to worry about me.”

Even though Bob is naturally an introvert, he quickly began forming connections with his neighbors at The Vista. “I was surprised by how welcoming people were,” he said. “Everyone says hello.” Bob now feels a sense of belonging in the community and enjoys the activities and socialization.

“It wasn’t healthy for me to be in the house by myself,” he said. “I’m not alone here. I could not be happier at The Vista.”

Healing Parkinson’s Therapy at Outpatient Rehabilitation

At our Outpatient Rehabilitation center, we offer innovative LSVT BIG and LOUD treatment to help patients with Parkinson’s reduce their symptoms, improve their balance and speech, and enjoy a greater quality of life. To learn more about the tremendous benefits of this groundbreaking therapy, please call (201) 848-5518.

To learn more about our many other communities and services, including LiveWell Counseling and The Vista, please visit ChristianHealthNJ.org.