Care partners, family members, and loved ones are a core part of DBS support before, during, and long after surgery.

Appointments, medication changes, recovery, and programming visits can be a lot to manage, and no one should have to carry it alone. As a care partner, you help create a safe place, support follow-through, and often provide the hope your loved one needs when symptoms, emotions, or uncertainty feel heavy. This page recognizes your vital role and offers practical, caring guidance throughout the DBS journey.

As a care partner, you're not "just helping"—you're an important part of the care team. You notice small changes between visits, help track what's working, support recovery routines, and carry emotional weight that others don't see. This responsibility can be both meaningful and exhausting, which is why burnout prevention matters. Protecting your own health, rest, and identity isn't selfish—it's necessary for the long run. You deserve support too, including clear communication, shared responsibilities, and a plan for when you're stretched thin.

If you're the patient, this page is also for you. Your care partner's experience shapes your shared life with DBS. Understanding that DBS affects everyone close to you can help you communicate more openly, show appreciation, share decisions, and invite your care partner to speak up about what they're seeing and what they need. When you support your care partner while they support you, you build a stronger team and strengthen your own advocacy through honest, respectful partnership.
 

The DBS process works best in a connected support system where both patient and care partner are cared for, heard, and treated as essential.