This first announcement, Insight Memory Care Center’s (IMCC) Caregiver Bootcamp, is special to us because IMCC has arranged for someone to speak about Veteran’s Benefits at our request. I hope you will seriously consider attending this boot camp because they have arranged for some excellent speakers. Even if you do not have a loved one with dementia, I’m sure you’ll find this event helpful. I know some of our readers their own caregiver, and I encourage you to consider attending, too.

Caregiver Bootcamp
Saturday, April 6, 9:30 am to 3:00 pm
Join IMCC for a free special day-long training event covering many essential caregiving topics!
We know it can be hard as a busy caregiver to find all the information you need to best care for your loved one with dementia. Insight offers the Caregiver Bootcamp to help you learn more about essential caregiving topics, all in one place! Come and learn from experts in their fields and gain knowledge on the basics you need to know as a caregiver.
A continental breakfast and lunch will be provided free of charge! Thanks to Old Dominion Home Care and Potomac Place Assisted Living and Memory Care for sponsoring our meals.
Sessions Include:
*  Dementia 101 & Clinical Trials
*  Understanding Veterans Benefits
*  Practical Tools for Caregivers
*  A Person-Centered Approach
Where: Insight Memory Care Center (map)
RSVP: Click here to register online, or contact Lindsey Vajpeyi at
703-204-4664 or lindsey.vajpeyi@insightmcc.org.
Click here to download the flyer and share with your family and friends!

Here’s another free event with lots of good information. Some of the workshops I think might of interest to you, presented by speakers who may be familiar to you, are:
*  Aging in Place Is an Option
*  Better Brain Health:  Save Your Memory and Your Mind!
*  Clean Up Your Act: Downsizing and Decluttering
*  Caregiving:  A Shared Journey
*  Getting Out and About: A Transportation Toolkit
*  Words Matter:  Communicating with Loved Ones Experiencing Memory Loss

Northern Virginia Positive Aging and Wellness Fair
Monday, April 8, 2019 8:45 am – 4:00 pm
At: Fairfax County Government Center
12000 Government Center Parkway Fairfax, VA 22035
Keynote speaker is Pat Collins, News4 reporter. The fair is free and will feature 60+ local exhibitors, and speakers throughout the day.
You might also want to check out the Long Term Care Coordinating Council Technology table and learn how to:
• Navigate smart phones and tablets
• Find information online
• Tell if something is a scam
• Know what fake news looks like
• Do safe online shopping
• Keep your personal information safe
• Manage many passwords
Click here for more information about this fair and to register.

And now for some announcements specifically for our Parkinson community . . .

Medicare Coverage and Parkinson’s
Thank you, Gary, for sharing the link to this article, on the Davis Phinney Foundation website. Click here to read the article.

Become an Advocate for Research With the (National) Parkinson’s Foundation
The first step to serving as a Research Advocate is to apply for a spot at the four-day Learning Institute. At this training, participants will learn about Parkinson’s research and gain leadership and advocacy skills to confidently interact with researchers and the community. Next training: Minneapolis, MN, June 23-26, 2019. Click here for more information.

Thank you, Alec for organizing this event! Hope to see everyone there! 
Pints for Parkinson’s
Saturday April 27, 2019
1:00 – 5:00 pm
At: Tysons Biergarten
8346 Leesburg Pike, Tysons Corner
This event is hosted by Alec Langstein & Rock Steady Boxing NOVA
Come support family and friends, grab a beer, and help fight back against Parkinson’s disease. All donations and percentage of sales will be given to the local non-profit Parkinson Social Network who is committed to bringing together the Parkinson’s community of Northern Virginia to inform, inspire and unify those living with Parkinson’s.
Online Donations: – You can donate online at www.gofundme.com/pintsforparkinsons2019
Parking: – PLEASE read the parking information on the Tysons Biergarten website – www.tysonsbiergarten.com. There is free parking with validation in the parking garage next door!

If you are interested in participating and/or helping us organize this new support group concept, please contact me at Sonia@ParkinsonSocialNetwork.org or call 571-286-5000.
It will help us with planning to hear from you if you’re interested in participating, and to hear from you about what you’d like see in a program like this.
Side by Side Support Groups
             For those with Parkinson’s and those who care
When? Beginning April 10, the second Wednesday of each month
Where? Virginia Hospital Center – Carlin Springs campus
Organizers? This is a joint effort of your Parkinson Social Network and Old Dominion Home Care.
It will actually be two support groups – one for caregivers and one for Parkinson people – each in their own space next to each other. The one for Parkinson people will lean more toward activities and being interactive than the usual kind of support group.

Parkinson’s Awareness Month
– Help Wanted for Outreach at Local Hospitals
April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month! This year, Parkinson Social Network will have tables two local hospitals to raise awareness about Parkinson’s.
We will be at Fair Oaks Hospital (Fairfax), in the front lobby by the cafeteria
   on Monday, April 22 and Friday, April 26, from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm
We will be at Virginia Hospital Center (Arlington), in front of the cafeteria
   on Monday, April 1, from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm
Would you like to help us? We need people to chat with the people who approach our tables, and share our printed material about Parkinson’s. Sometimes it’s just a matter of listening to stories and letting people know that they are not alone. It’s also a good opportunity to talk with medical professionals to give them an understanding of what life with Parkinson’s is like. If you can’t stay the whole time, that’s ok.
If you’d like to join us in this year’s outreach program, please email me at Sonia@ParkinsonSocialNetwork.org or call 571-286-5000.

Hope to see you out and about again soon!

Cheers,
Sonia
email: Sonia@ParkinsonSocialNetwork.org