Before he had deep brain stimulation surgery (DBS) for Parkinson’s Disease, Peter Cotter couldn’t tie his shoelaces, cut up his food, or roll over in bed. But now, he can.

While DBS surgery with Cabrini neurologist Wes Thevathasan and neurosurgeon Kristian Bulluss made it possible for the 66-year-old to be able to perform all those tasks again, it was his extended rehabilitation team that made it happen.

Peter participated in our Cabrini Parkinson’s Outpatient Rehabilitation Program, a program that is personalised to combine therapies including speech therapy, physiotherapy, dietetics, psychology, occupational therapy, rehab and neuropsychology.

Life has become a whole lot easier for Peter since completing the six-week program, he said.

“My before and after are poles apart,” Peter said. “The education side of things – learning how to manage eating, drinking and sleeping, and the strategies they’ve taught me around speech, including strategies like slow down, speak louder, the breathing techniques, have all made a big difference.

“And the physical learnings in the gym about balance, I’ve found that to be very important. But getting together as a group with people who have the same problems as you, who understand what you’re going through, that’s been very good, too.”

Peter has been disciplined implementing the strategies that his team of therapists have taught him, something that makes his speech therapist, Jess Harper, very happy.

“It’s so rewarding to see the improvements,” Jess said. “Just seeing our patients come in with so much more confidence in their communication, their balance, and being less socially isolated – something that so many people with communication difficulties experience – it’s really lovely.

“But it’s hearing stories like how our clients can now call their family members and be understood better, and to reach their goals, that’s amazing.”

Of all the therapies that Peter has had as part of the program, he has one clear favourite.

“Speech therapy,” he said. “That’s been my favourite because I’ve seen the most difference.

“All my life I’ve exercised, so doing the exercise program wasn’t something new to me, but speech therapy is new, and it’s made a huge difference to my life.”

Read about our Parkinson’s Outpatient Rehabilitation Program