In our clinic, when we see patients, we always give them all of the necessary information to communicate with Parkinson Society Canada and the one in Quebec. And so the information exists, but as you say, a lot of people prefer to keep things to themselves. And so there is a gap between what is offered and the way in which people deal with the disease.
For a lot of people, there is the stigmatization aspect you referred to. People feel stigmatized and prefer to isolate themselves. And so we regularly organize events such as the ones you have described, at least twice a year, to which we invite patients and their caregivers. I agree that the caregivers are absolutely crucial for the people suffering from this disease. A large part of the burden is taken on by the family caregiver. And I agree with you entirely—we have to find a way of destigmatizing the disease.
Moreover, one of the strategies we adopt, as do many other centres, is a very multidisciplinary approach. When patients come to see us, they are not only seen by a doctor, but also by a nurse, an occupational therapist and a social worker. This raises awareness and allows people to find out what the milieu offers to patients.