This has been a very busy week! Here’s the news about what we’ve been doing and are planning to do for April – Parkinson’s Awareness month!

I hope you can come to this event featuring PSN board members Karl and Angela Robb, as well as Inova Movement Disorder Specialist, Dr. Drew Falconer.
A Journey of Living Well with Parkinson’s
Thursday, April 11, 6:00 – 7:30 pm  **Save the date!**
At: 12052 N Shore Drive, Reston, VA 20190
Presented by Karl and Angela Robb, author of A Soft Voice in a Noisy World who has lived with Parkinson’s disease for thirty years, and his wife/carepartner, respectively; and Dr. Falconer, co-director of the Movement Disorder Program, INOVA Hospital.
Join us as Karl shares his positive attitude about living with Parkinson’s, and learn about the latest medical advancements from Dr. Falconer.
Free and open to the public. Light refreshments served.
RSVP by April 1. Space is limited!
Call 703-834-9800 or email RSVP@talloaksal.com.

I was excited to be invited to do another podcast for Fairfax 50+ this week!
That’s me with host Jim Person in the photo above.
Parkinson’s Social Network’s latest podcast!
Fairfax 50+ is a podcast series featuring discussions on issues, services and activities of interest to residents 50 and over. On this edition, host Jim Person talks with me about Parkinson’s Awareness Month in April. This year’s theme is, “Start a Conversation.”
Click here to hear the podcast.
You can find the county’s older adult services, recreation and community engagement opportunities by calling 703-324-7948, TTY 711, Monday – Friday, or by going online to www.fairfaxcounty.gov/OlderAdults. When you’re online, be sure to subscribe to the monthly Golden Gazette newspaper, Caregivers Corner Online e-newsletter as well as Fairfax 50+ E-News. To listen to other county podcasts, visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/podcasts.

If you’re not sure what to do with these podcast and webinar announcements, Grace Lynch and Jim Person will be joining our Cafe Fairfax in May to explain how to access them. They were going to join us in February, but the weather got in the way so we’ve arranged another date with them.
We’re very grateful for all that Grace is doing to help us get the word out about our Parkinson Social Network!

More from Fairfax County for caregivers
Fairfax Caregiver Seminar Consortium offers free webinars . . .
. . . for family caregivers, including topics such as:
–  Legal Tools for Caregivers
–  Just Add More Heart: Self-Care Techniques for the Caregiver
–  Diagnosis: Dementia…Now What?
–  Resources for Caregivers, Older Adults and Adults with Disabilities
–  Best Practices When You Are Chosen to Manage Someone Else’s Money
–  Medicare 101
–  Caregiver Considerations
Click here for more information and to register online.

We’re interested in hearing from people who are would like to participate in our new 

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.
Two support groups, each in their own space next to each other:
–  For caregivers to share and learn from each other and
–   For people with Parkinson’s to engage in group activities and share with each other

. . . And of course there’s more!

on Monday, April 22 and Friday, April 26, from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm
–  We will be at Fair Oaks Hospital (Fairfax), in the front lobby by the cafeteria

on Monday, April 1, from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm
–  We will be at Virginia Hospital Center (Arlington), in front of the cafeteria

We’d love your help reaching out to people, and letting them know that they are not alone. You’ll also have the 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! Next week we have 2 cafes – in Alexandria and Fairfax – with Maria from Conquer the Clutter joining us as well as Clinton Wutzke from GMU. Will we see you there?

Cheers,
Sonia
email: Sonia@ParkinsonSocialNetwork.org