Other workout options include dance, water-resistance exercise, and tai chi, the ancient Chinese exercise that emphasizes flowing moves, posture, balance, and meditation. Check with a local medical center or movement disorders clinic to see if it offers these kinds of classes for Parkinson's patients or seniors.

Also highly recommended is a ten-lesson exercise plan from theater arts coach John Argue, author of Parkinson's Disease and the Art of Moving. His book and accompanying video teach Parkinson's patients to purposefully think themselves through the acts of moving and speaking.

The most important thing is for your family member to find safe activities that she enjoys doing. If she doesn't enjoy them, she probably won't keep doing them. Other resources:

• The National Parkinson Foundation's free brochure, Parkinson Disease: Fitness Counts
• A video or DVD of 24 seated exercises entitled Motivating Moves for People with Parkinson's, coproduced by the Parkinson's Disease Foundation and available for purchase online.