Parkinson Social NetworkFebruary Staying Connected Newsletter
February’s Events
Leave Nothing to Chance: The Documents Everyone Should Have & Why
Wednesday, February 18
10:00am-11:30am ET | 9am CT | 8am MT | 7am PT
Parkinson Social Network Board Director David Baum will address the documents that are vital in preserving your financial and medical best interests. He has more than twenty years’ experience as a Trustee, Executor, Court-appointed Administrator, and Attorney-in-Fact, and will address this critical subject.
Evening Living With Parkinson’s Gathering
Tuesday, February 24
7:00pm-8:00pm ET | 6pm CT | 5pm MT | 4pm PT
Our Evening Living with Parkinson’s Gathering is a group for those living with Parkinson’s disease. You are welcome to come anytime and stay for as long as you can.
New Videos/Recordings
of Our Recent Programs:
The PSN Buddy Program
Our Buddy Program is an opportunity for…
- Someone newly diagnosed with Parkinson’s to speak directly with someone living with Parkinson’s to ask questions of those with first-hand experience.
- Persons living with Parkinson’s to speak with one-on-one another to ask questions and share experiences.
- Those living with Parkinson’s to give back by sharing their experience with other individuals.
Whether you are newly diagnosed, or are currently living with Parkinson’s and would like to participate, or have any questions about the program, please
- Call: 571-286-5000, or
- Email: buddy@parkinsonsocialnetwork.org
Events & Resources In Our Parkinson’s Community…
- Starting February 6, 1pm – 2:25pm (in-person) – The School of Dance at George Mason University offers FREE Dance for Parkinson’s Disease (Dance for PD®) classes on our Fairfax campus. Registration is required!
- February 17, 23 (various dates and times) – Exploring the Dimensions of Aging – Fairfax Co Agency on Aging
- March 10 5:30-6:30pm ET – APDA VA PRESS Program via Zoom (online/virtual) – APDA Parkinson Roadmap for Education and Support Services™ (PRESS) is an 8-week program that provides an opportunity for people with Parkinson’s Disease (PD) and one partner or other family member to meet with other PWP facing a similar experience and share coping strategies regarding day-to-day issues related to living with Parkinson’s.
- November 12-15, 2026 – 2nd Annual YOPN Retreat! – Tampa Bay, FL
Perpetual Parkinson’s Events/Resources
- SPEAK OUT! Online Home practice sessions are available each day at 11am ET/10am CT/9am MT/8am PT from Parkinson Voice Project.
- Hidden Disabilities Sunflower program: The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower is a simple tool for you to voluntarily share that you have a disability or condition that may not be immediately apparent – and that you may need a helping hand, understanding, or more time in shops, at work, on transport, or in public spaces.
- Young Onset Parkinson’s Hub hosted by PMD Alliance https://www.pmdalliance.org/lived-experiences/young-onset/?
- Ready & Prepared 2026 (Fairfax Co.)
- Speech Therapy Sessions are available at your fingertips – free and live! The University of Utah is a SPEAK OUT! Therapy and Research Center for the state of Virginia and the District of Columbia (DC) providing SPEAK OUT! voice therapy at no cost, contact them at 801-581-3506 or email speechpath@utah.edu. (CLICK for Flyer)
- Dance for PD at Glen Echo Park (in-person) – https://glenechopark.org/danceforpd
- ICYMI: Power Over Parkinson’s (POP) – recorded Informational Virtual Session Julia Lidgard Parkinson’s Speech
- NEW! Parkinson’s Policy Podcast hosted by advocates Margaret Preston (Power Over Parkinson’s) and George Ackerman (Together with Sharon)
- UVA Moves – PD Clinic Newsletter Fall edition is available at this link – The newsletter includes clinic articles and clinical trials information.
- You can take action today and help advance research by signing up for Brain & Environment registry!
- If you are veteran with Parkinson’s, the Richmond PADRECC has many support programs for you and your carepartner. For more information, contact Jessica Kaplan at jessica.kaplan2@va.gov or 804-675-5931.
- APDA Virginia hosts exercise groups and events (online and in-person) around the state of Virginia. Learn more about these programs: https://www.apdaparkinson.org/community/virginia/
- Shenandoah University – Loudoun Campus is offering free SPEAK OUT! speech therapy for those living with Parkinson’s, in-person and virtual. Click here to see their flyer for more information or contact Myra Schatzki, Director of Clinical Education at myra.schatzki@su.edu or call 540-665-4634.
- Power Over Parkinson’s has an extensive listing of programs in the Richmond area for exercise and education, visit their website for more information.
- Live in Maryland? MAPS has an extensive support group listing on their website.
- Dance for Parkinson’s program at James Madison University – JMU has in-person and Zoom online classes. For more information about this program, visit their website here.
- Sign up for PD Avengers TODAY! PD Avengers is the Global Alliance to End Parkinson’s Disease.
For Carepartners/Caregivers
- February 11, 17, 23 (various dates and times) – Exploring the Dimensions of Aging – Fairfax Co Agency on Aging
- February 11th at 2pm ET/1:00 pm CT – Parkinson’s Family Education Group PVP hosted by Parkinson Voice Project – The topic is “Be the CEO of your Household.” Click here to register!
- 2/19 12pm ET – In This Together: Care Partnership and Parkinson’s – Michael J Fox Foundation
- Partners in Parkinson’s – Discussion and support for care partners and families of people with Parkinson’s Disease.
Date/Time: First Wednesday of every month / 12:00 PM EST
Meeting ID: 892 0510 3333
Invite Link: https://apdaparkinson.zoom.us/j/89205103333 - Real Talk: Care Partner Discussion Group 1st and 3rd Thursday of Each Month, hosted by: PMD Alliance exclusively for Care Partners supporting someone on their journey with a movement disorder. NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED. Use this link to join.
- PFWPA NEW! Caregiver Evening Support Group (virtual) – Thursday, February 12th & Thursday, February 26th at 7:00 PM for the virtual evening caregiver support group meetings (on the 2nd & 4th Thursdays at 7:00 PM)
- Virginia Lifespan Respite Voucher Program is available for residents of Virginia. Visit the Division for Aging Services site to learn more or apply.
Parkinson Social Network (PSN) is Here to Help!
Are you searching for a resource or more information about living with Parkinson’s disease? Parkinson Social Network volunteers can help! Call our office at 571-286-5000 or send us email at board@parkinsonsocialnetwork.org with your question!
Upcoming Events in Our Parkinson’s Community and Resources – January 2026
As you can imagine, there is a constant flow of events and resources for our Parkinson’s disease community created by local, regional, state, national and international organizations. Parkinson Social Network volunteers are committed to sharing events and resources we find with you. We encourage you to sign up for our newsletter by visiting this link. Here’s our most recent listing we made available via our monthly newsletter and event reminder emails:
- Dance for PD at Glen Echo Park (in-person) – Starting January 7, 2026 https://glenechopark.org/danceforpd
- 1/22 2pm ET – Bed Mobility webinar (Northwest Parkinson’s Foundation NWPF) Click this link to Register
- 1/27 7pm ET YOPN/PMD Alliance Monthly Community Gathering
- 1/29 2pm ET Caring with Confidence: Self-Care While Supporting a Parent with Parkinson’s APDA https://www.apdaparkinson.org/events/caring-with-confidence-self-care-while-supporting-a-parent-with-parkinsons/
- 2/10 1pm ET Living with Intention: Maintaining Your Voice with Parkinson’s SPEAKOUT! (APDA Virginia) Click link for more info and to register
- PERSEVERE is a fully virtual, national trial for family caregivers of loved ones with Parkinson’s or Lewy Body Disease with cognitive change. At this time, we are hoping to reach caregivers currently caring for, or previously cared for, a loved one whose had cognitive symptoms or hallucinations for more than 2 years. To sign up, please visit https://redcap.link/PERSEVERE1
- Emily Peron, a PhD student at VCU is looking for volunteers in a research study about social connections and attitudes about aging in people with Parkinson’s disease (PD).While there is no direct benefit to study participants at this time, 10 people will be randomly selected to receive a $60 Amazon gift card. For more information and to complete the survey, please follow this link: https://vcupharmacy.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5AurWsy0cBEs8qa
Perpetual Parkinson’s Events/Resources
- ICYMI: Power Over Parkinson’s (POP) – recorded Informational Virtual Sessionon Parkinson’s Speech with speech therapist Julia Lidgard, M.S., CCC-SLP
- ICYMI: Congressional Champions Push to Seat the National Parkinson’s Plan Advisory Council
- NEW! Parkinson’s Policy Podcast hosted by advocates Margaret Preston (Power Over Parkinson’s) and George Ackerman (Together for Sharon)
- Getting up from a chair and mobility tips PDF from Kill Parkinson (Berlin)
- UVA Moves – PD Clinic Newsletter Fall edition is available at this link – The newsletter includes clinic articles and clinical trials information.
- Dr. Dorsey mentioned in his talk in August, that you can take action today and help advance research by signing up for Brain & Environment registry!
- If you are veteran with Parkinson’s, the Richmond PADRECC has many support programs for you and your carepartner. For more information, download the PADRECC flyer or contact Jessica Kaplan at jessica.kaplan2@va.gov or 804-675-5931.
- APDA Virginia hosts exercise groups and events (online and in-person) around the state of Virginia. Learn more about these programs: https://www.apdaparkinson.org/community/virginia/
- Partners in Parkinson’s – Discussion and support for care partners and families of people with Parkinson’s Disease.
Date/Time: First Wednesday of every month / 12:00 PM EST
Meeting ID: 892 0510 3333
Invite Link: https://apdaparkinson.zoom.us/j/89205103333 - Dance for PD On Demand Dance Library https://danceforparkinsons.org/take-a-class/on-demand-classes/
- Virginia Lifespan Respite Voucher Program is available for residents of Virginia. Visit the Division for Aging Services site to learn more or apply.
- Shenandoah University – Loudoun Campus is offering free SPEAK OUT! speech therapy for those living with Parkinson’s, in-person and virtual. Click here to see their flyer for more information or contact Myra Schatzki, Director of Clinical Education at myra.schatzki@su.edu or call 540-665-4634.
- Speech Therapy Sessions are available at your fingertips – free and live! The University of Utah is a SPEAK OUT! Therapy and Research Center for the state of Virginia and the District of Columbia (DC) providing SPEAK OUT! voice therapy at no cost, contact them at 801-581-3506 or email speechpath@utah.edu. (CLICK for Flyer)
- Real Talk: Care Partner Discussion Group 1st and 3rd Thursday of Each Month, hosted by: PMD Alliance exclusively for Care Partners supporting someone on their journey with a movement disorder. NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED. Use this link to join.
- Power Over Parkinson’s has an extensive listing of programs in the Richmond area for exercise and education, visit their website for more information.
- Hundreds of Interviews with people living with Parkinson’s, caring for those with Parkinson’s, and those making a difference in our Parkinson’s community – all free videos (Together with Sharon) https://togetherforsharon.com/interview-index/
- Live in Maryland? MAPS has an extensive support group listing on their website.
- Dance for Parkinson’s program at James Madison University – JMU has in-person and Zoom online classes. For more information about this program, visit their website here.
- SPEAK OUT! Online Home practice sessions are available each day at 11am ET/10am CT/9am MT/8am PT from Parkinson Voice Project.
- Sign up for PD Avengers TODAY! PD Avengers is the Global Alliance to End Parkinson’s Disease.
Parkinson Social Network 