Parkinson's is a progressive disease of the nervous system, that affects nearly a million Americans. It causes tremors, slow movement or loss of balance. There still is no cure for the disease which is why some patients and their caregivers say it was truly life-changing to come across this individual.
"You're in Bob's hands here and that's all you need to be is in Bob's hands," Earl Weigt, caregiver for his wife with Parkinson's.
Bob Kann started the Parkinson's Activity and Rehabilitation Klinic, or PARK, in 1988.
"It's one of the longest going Parkinson's programs in the nation," Kann said.
The comprehensive program is geared towards keeping Parkinson's disease patients mobile.
"The things that have gotten so automatic are not automatic anymore," Kann said.
He recently launched a new program called SARI or Simultaneous Automatic Response Integration.
"It's good for muscle memory and it's very good for repetition," he said.
Through SARI they practice everyday functions like how to walk without falling or getting in and out of a chair.
"You have to know where to place your feet, you have to know when to bend your hips, bend at the knees, push with your arms. You have to know all these techniques in order to get up," Kann said.
Fran and Earl Weigt have been coming to the program for about six months after Fran was diagnosed with Parkinson's last year.
"I think I've had it two or three years because I was falling a lot," Fran said.
Now after 62 years of marriage, Earl takes the role of both husband and caregiver.
"You learn to help guide them on what they need to do the other six days a week," Earl said.
"I've fallen a lot less, I'm much more slow," Fran said.
Since finding the program, they've attended every week at Vancrest in Delphos and now Earl says..
"I don't know what we'd do without it," he said.
