Steve Hovey
Saratoga Springs, New York
I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2007 at age 50. At that time, I didn’t know anyone with Parkinson’s, so my wife Nancy and I took it upon ourselves to learn as much as we could about Parkinson’s symptoms and treatment. Our search soon led them to the Davis Phinney Foundation, where we learned about the importance of exercise and a healthy lifestyle, something I credit to significantly impacting the quality of life I continue to enjoy to this day.
Now semi-retired, I work part-time as a business consultant and love sharing the message that there are daily actions we can take to manage Parkinson’s. When I was diagnosed, the focus of my treatment was medicine. The doctors never mentioned the benefits of dealing with Parkinson’s on a more holistic level – exercise, good nutrition, and a healthy lifestyle. Though [things are] getting better, there are still too many people who need to hear this message that taking pills alone is not going to help you live your best life with Parkinson’s.