Confidence and Safety
All PD participants explained how they had lost confidence
as a result of the sudden physical changes associated with
unpredictable OFF stages, e.g. PM2 experienced severe
and frequent difficulties with freezing, causing him anxiety
in crowds or when out alone. This would lead to situations
where they were liable to fall or be unable to get required
help from the public (PF6: “well, you lose confidence
because you can fall…people don’t always understand
what you’re saying…your voice gradually wears out”).
Glass was immediately seen as something that could instil
confidence for participants by providing a feeling of safety.
Participants felt they could be independent and go out on
their own in the knowledge they could quickly contact
someone who could “see where they are” and offer
instruction and support (PF6: “It would give me confidence
back. I would be more independent because I’m not
allowed to be independent much at the moment. That would
give anyone in that position the confidence back to be able
to be on their own.”). Supporting increased confidence and
safety would be two-way between patient and carer. Carers
would also benefit from knowing their family member
could be contacted as and when needed (CF7: “Having
that, that person can […] see that you’re fine and
everything” and PF6: “the carer would have more
confidence in the cared for and the person would have
more confidence in themselves to be able to go out and
about”). However, there was also the consideration of
burdens for the carer, who may not want to be looking over
the person at all times (CM4: “I wouldn’t want to be
watching your every move”).