Build your team

Parkinson’s is a journey—and having the right people by your side can make all the difference. Your care team is here to support every part of your life, not just your medical needs.

The importance of a care team

Living with Parkinson’s involves more than managing motor symptoms. It affects your movement, emotions, relationships, and daily routines. That’s why building a care team that takes a holistic, integrated approach is so important. Integrated care means everyone on your team works together with you to make decisions, adjust plans, and support your goals.

Your care team can help you:

Manage symptoms
Navigate medications, treatment plans, and the health care system
Address emotional, mental, and social needs
Stay active, independent, and connected
Adapt as Parkinson’s progresses

Build your care team with CareFinder

An innovative, user-friendly online directory designed to connect you with Parkinson’s-informed services based on your location.

This wonderful tool directs you towards tailored care providers, services, programs, and supports in your community or online.

Build a care team in your area

You are at the center of your care

Some people like to think of their care team as a circle of care. At the center of this circle is you, bringing the knowledge of your own experiences, needs, and goals. Surrounding you is a team that works with you to help you live well—providing coordinated, compassionate, and expert support.

Your circle of care includes:

You – the expert on your own body, needs, and priorities.
Your care partner – a spouse, family member, or close friend who supports daily routines, advocates with you, and adapts alongside you.
Your extended circle – family, friends, and community members who offer emotional support, practical help, and connection.
Your professional team – health care providers and specialists who work together to support your physical, emotional, and cognitive health.

As your needs evolve, so can your circle. This integrated, team-based approach helps ensure that no part of your well-being is overlooked.

Tips for coordinating your care team

Creating a strong care circle takes time, but there are small steps that can make a big difference.

Discuss what is available through public funding in your province or territory with your health care team
Bring a care partner, close friend or PSW to appointments for support and shared decision-making
Be honest about your needs, goals, and what’s important to you
Use a care journal or app to track changes, questions, and appointments
Check in with your team regularly to keep communication open
Don’t hesitate to adjust your team as your situation changes

Members of a Parkinson’s care team

Your care team is more than a list of providers—it’s a network of people working together to support your whole self. And as your needs change, your team may change too. You may add new specialists, seek new kinds of support, or take on more self-advocacy.

Here are the types of providers that can make up a care team:

Core medical team

These professionals focus on diagnosis, treatment, symptom management, and care planning.

Primary care physicians
- Help manage your overall health, coordinate referrals, and monitor non-Parkinson’s conditions like high blood pressure or diabetes that may affect your well-being. They may also treat your Parkinson’s directly or stay in regular contact with your neurologist to provide consistent and collaborative care.
Neurologists and Movement Disorder Specialists (MDS)
- Provide expert guidance on diagnosing Parkinson’s, prescribing and adjusting medications, and managing both motor and non-motor symptoms over time.
Nurses
- Offer ongoing care and support between clinic visits, assist with adapting to medication, dosage, and timing adjustments, and often provide telephone counseling to help without the need for a clinic visit. Clinical nurses also liaise with other members of your care team to ensure you receive coordinated and optimal care.
Pharmacists
- Ensure medications are taken safely and effectively, offering advice on interactions with other medications and side effects—especially important for Parkinson’s medications. In some provinces, pharmacists are also permitted to prescribe medications.

Rehabilitation and functional support

These specialists help you stay mobile, safe, and independent in your daily life.

Physiotherapists
- Help you maintain or improve movement, balance, and strength to prevent falls and preserve mobility and independence.
Occupational therapists
- Support your ability to perform daily tasks by suggesting tools, techniques, and home modifications tailored to your needs.
Speech language pathologists
- Assist with communication, voice strength, and swallowing, which can be affected by Parkinson’s at different stages.
Registered dieticians
- Provide nutritional guidance to manage constipation, medication timing, and overall health, helping you feel your best. Preferably you’ll work with someone specialized in Parkinson’s or other neurological disorders.

Mental health and well-being specialists

This group offers psychological, emotional, and spiritual care for you and your family, and may include a:

Psychologist
Psychiatrist
Social worker
Counselor
Therapist

Wellness, movement, and complementary support

These professionals support physical, mental, and emotional health through lifestyle and holistic approaches. They may include:

Massage therapist
Acupuncturist
Exercise instructors

Other specialized care

Personal support workers (PSW)

Other specialists (who understand Parkinson’s)
- This may include urologists, gastroenterologists, ophthalmologists, dermatologists, dentists, palliative care specialists, or others who help manage Parkinson’s-related conditions in their areas of expertise.

Parkinson Canada and provincial Parkinson’s societies

Offer tailored support, education, and advocacy for people living with Parkinson’s and their families. From support groups and wellness programs to information sessions and resource navigation, they help connect you to trusted local and national services and a caring community that understands your experience.

Learn about each provider’s role in Parkinson’s care, how to access their services, and what to ask—download our Building your care team guide.

Access the Building Your Care Team guide