Jack and Kevin
Jack, a retired fine arts professor, overcomes the challenges of Parkinson's disease by working with a Care Partner who is also an artist.
A longtime New Yorker, Jack was born in Northern California in a town of 2,000 people. His father worked for the U.S. Forest Service. “Many of my favorite memories from childhood are about being outdoors,” Jack recalls. “In particular, I’ve always loved being near water. Nothing compares to the ocean.”
Jack’s father often had to relocate for work. So before Jack was ten years old, he had already lived in several parts of the country, from California to New York. “I didn’t like moving around so much when I was a kid,” Jack says, “but I appreciated it later in life when I started painting. Being a nomad taught me how to be somewhere new, to look closely at what’s unfamiliar.”
After serving in the Army, Jack studied painting at the School of Visual Arts in New York. “I was lucky on two counts,” Jack says. “I discovered my passion early in life, and the G.I. Bill covered my tuition.”
After graduating, Jack worked in media and advertising, including a stint at NBC. “A highlight was working with Esther Williams,” recalls Jack. “She loves swimming too.”
But ultimately, Jack found he had a different calling. “My passion is the visual arts—painting, sculpture, fashion, illustration,” Jack says. So he returned to graduate school and eventually became a professor at the Fashion Institute of Technology, where he worked for over thirty years.
“I was lucky to find work that I love,” Jack says. “But my life has never been just about work. My partner was the love of my life. We lived together most of my life.”
After Jack’s partner died, he continued to live in their apartment. He grew closer to his neighbors, Mark and Herb. “I don’t know what I’d do without them,” Jack says.
Life Changes
Around ten years ago, Jack developed Parkinson’s disease. The condition affected Jack’s coordination. He’d freeze sometimes when walking, occasionally losing his balance. In 2010, he suffered from a significant fall and was admitted to the hospital.
Mark and Herb, Jack’s neighbors, contacted Renewal Memory Partners to plan for Jack’s return home. After discussing Jack’s situation with his medical team, a Care Manager from Renewal arranged for Jack to meet Kevin, a Care Partner who had worked with other clients with Parkinson’s and who is also an artist.
“I woke up in the hospital,” Jack says. “I don’t even remember what happened, but Kevin was there. It was the start of another life.”
“Before meeting Jack, I didn’t know what to expect,” Kevin says. “The social worker at the hospital told me he doesn’t warm up easily to new people. But that wasn’t my experience. I just had to approach Jack the right way. That’s how it is with most people.”
Kevin brought his sketchbook when he went to meet Jack at the hospital. “I showed him some sketches and pictures I was working on,” Kevin remembers. “We hit it off instantly. We started talking, artist to artist. It was very natural. Hospitals are never easy for people. Being there for Jack felt good.”
“I never thought I’d get out of the hospital,” Jack says. “I remember I kept telling Kevin that, and he kept telling me he thought I would. Sometimes that’s what you need to hear from someone.”
At the hospital, Jack and Kevin would watch Jack’s favorite Turner Classic movies together. “Sometimes people need a distraction,” Kevin says. “Jack would tell me all the backstories of the actors and actresses in the movies. Neither of us like hospitals, but we managed to have a good time together. Or at least we made it tolerable.”
Returning Home
After two months in the hospital, Jack’s doctors said he could return home, though he would need full-time care. “I wanted to get home as soon as possible,” Jack says. “I missed my life. Kevin and others at Renewal helped make this happen.”
Jack’s medical team told him his apartment would need to be more accessible to reduce the chances of Jack’s falling again. So Jack’s Care Manager at Renewal arranged for a home safety specialist to do an assessment and bring in a contractor.
Jack also needed to continue physical therapy after returning home. His Care Manager introduced Jack to a physical therapist who helped Jack with his exercises in his apartment.
“The physical therapist taught me how to do exercises with Jack, so I could do these with him every day,” Kevin recalls. “We also helped Jack adjust to using a walker. Jack could do these things himself. Mostly, he needed reminders and encouragement.”
Though Jack was glad to be home, he no longer wanted to paint. “I was overwhelmed, and couldn’t keep my hands steady,” Jack says. “I couldn’t paint like I’d always painted, so I didn’t want to paint at all.”
Intuitively, Kevin knew that finding a way to get Jack painting again was important. “He’s always been a painter,” Kevin says. “It’s who he is and how he relates to the world.”
So Kevin set this goal with Jack and started thinking about creative ways of achieving it. “One of my mentors in college was into art therapy, and I learned some things from him,” Kevin says. “To start, Jack and I took trips to the Guggenheim, Met, and other museums. It was a good way for us to be active, get out of the apartment, be around some people, and maybe feel some inspiration.”
Kevin also patiently encouraged Jack to try painting again. “I’d suggest Jack try holding a paintbrush again,” recalls Kevin. “After Jack became comfortable with that, I’d suggest we paint together for five minutes each day. I’d put on music he likes, to help keep the experience relaxing and fun. Before long, we were painting together for hours each day. Jack was creating beautiful, expressive art. It was amazing.”
“I’ve learned so much from my relationship with Jack,” Kevin reflects. “I’ve learned about art, identity, and courage. I’ve also learned about the deep capacity for caring for others that we all have. Taking full responsibility for the care of another person is tough work, and there are times when every caregiver wonders whether you have any more care to give. What I’ve learned, though, is that we all have a greater ability to love and care for others than we ever could imagine.”