Adapted from Maria Meyer's The Comfort of Home for Parkinson Disease: A Guide for Caregivers, “Caring in the Comfort of Home^TM: a Guide for Carers" has been "translated" for the UK by the European Federation of Neurological Associations (EFNA) made possible through educational grants provided by Pfizer, Solvay, GE Healthcare and Britannia Pharmaceuticals.

For most people, there is no place like home. But every year hundreds of thousands of people affected by illness and disability face the heart-breaking situation that they can no longer manage to look after themselves. Some are elderly, some have chronic disease but for whatever reason they can only remain in their own home if they have someone to help care for them. Although the Social Services can provide help with care, unpaid carers (family and friends) are a vital support - their value to the individual is priceless; their value to society in the UK has been estimated at £87 billion each year. Without a carer the alternative for many may be a move to residential or nursing homes. The physical and emotional demands on carers are huge; many feel lost, alone, frustrated and uncertain. Although the government has launched a National Strategy for carers, many still feel overwhelmed and don’t know where to turn to for practical advice and help.

Early in 1998, the National Parkinson Foundation Board of Directors appointed an Education Task Force, whose primary charge was to create innovative educational materials to meet the needs of patients and families living with Parkinson's disease. Parkinson's Disease: Coping and Caring is the final addition in a series of six comprehensive manuals.