Episode 7: Stronger with Movement: Innovative Approaches to Parkinson’s Care

Did You Know? As of 2023, the Canadian Chronic Disease Surveillance System (CCDSS) reported that more than 111,000 Canadians aged 40 and older are living with Parkinson’s, with nearly 80% diagnosed after age 65. On average, 38 Canadians are diagnosed each day, and men are almost twice as likely as women to be affected. With cases projected to rise by nearly 70% by 2050, Parkinson’s is one of the fastest-growing neurological conditions in the country, costing an estimated $3.3 billion in 2024 and projected to reach $4.4 billion by 2034 (Parkinson Canada).

These realities highlight the importance of innovative, evidence-informed approaches to care—such as Boxing 4 Health’s research-backed, high-intensity exercise programs, designed for seniors and people with Parkinson’s to build strength, confidence, and resilience, and ComForCare’s Parkinson’s Pathway Program, which integrates prescribed exercise into personalized care plans. By engaging clients in balance exercises, mobility training, walking, stretching, and strength-building activities, ComForCare helps sustain flexibility, coordination, and independence. Together, these programs provide practical strategies to reduce fall risk and empower Canadians with Parkinson’s to live with greater strength, independence, and quality of life.

Tune into our latest ComForConnections episode, where Christine Seaby, Founder of Boxing 4 Health, Inc., and Linda Meek, Business Development & Relations Manager – ComForCare Home Care – Ottawa-Champlain, share their insights on how physical activity, strength, and balance training can slow symptom progression, reduce fall risk, and improve quality of life for Canada’s ageing population—especially those living with Parkinson’s disease.

About Our Guests: 

Christine Seaby, Founder of Boxing 4 Health, Inc.

Christine Seaby is the founder of Boxing 4 Health, a specialized fitness community with four locations across Ottawa and Chelsea, Quebec. With over 12 years of experience as a Registered Massage Therapist, a personal training background, and nutrition studies, Christine brings a unique, whole-person approach to health.

Her passion for fitness was fueled by years of training in mixed martial arts with Muay Thai as her favourite discipline, and she now channels that same energy into helping seniors and people with Parkinson’s disease reclaim their strength, confidence, and independence through exercise.

At Boxing 4 Health, Christine has built more than just a gym; she’s built a family. Her programs combine evidence-based exercise with a powerful sense of community, where staff and members alike support one another through every fight life brings. Christine’s mission is simple but profound: to prove that exercise is medicine, and with the right team in your corner, anything is possible.

Learn more by visiting www.boxing4health.com.

Linda Meek, Business Development & Relations Manager, ComForCare Home Care of Ottawa-Champlain

Linda is the Business Development and Relations Manager for ComForCare Home Care – Ottawa-Champlain. She is dedicated to helping families ensure their loved ones are provided with the care and services they deserve in whatever setting they call home. 

Supporting and educating our seniors to navigate our Healthcare system is a strong focus point for Linda. She grew up in a small village in Scotland, where her grandmother taught her the importance of caring for others at a very young age, especially seniors living alone. 

After studying Gerontology, Linda worked in Senior-centric organisations for over 20 years. She has met and befriended many Seniors and their Families in her 17-year journey as Executive Director in various retirement homes in the Ottawa area. Linda has served as a Board Member and Educator for the Ontario Retirement Communities Association, Board Member for the Council on Aging, and on various committees. Linda currently serves on the Algonquin College advisory committee.

Show Notes:

• The impact of research-backed, high-intensity exercise programs in helping people with Parkinson’s build strength, balance, and confidence while slowing symptom progression.
• Practical strategies that empower families and care partners to support safe, meaningful activity and daily independence for loved ones living with Parkinson’s.
• How ComForCare’s Parkinson’s Pathway integrates prescribed exercise, mobility training, and personalized care planning to reduce fall risk and sustain quality of life at home.
• Actionable insights for ageing services professionals to implement innovative, Parkinson’s-specific activity approaches in both community and home-based settings.
• Resources and tools that equip care teams and families to promote resilience, functional ability, and long-term independence for Canadians with Parkinson’s.

Episode Resources:

• boxing4health.com
• Parkinson’s Pathway Program (ComForCare Canada)
• Older Adults and Falls: A Serious But Preventable Concern (ComForCare Canada)
• Fall Prevention 101: A Guide for Seniors & Families
• Gaitway Fall Prevention Program (ComForCare Canada)

Listen to more ComForConnections episodes here >>