Over the weekend, several friends from Northern Virginia attended the American Parkinson’s Disease Association (APDA) Virginia Education Day. I took lots of notes which I’m planning to share next week. In the meantime, we had fun chatting with Susan about getting ourselves and our stuff organized at a couple of our cafes this month. This is what we learned . . .

Getting Organized with Susan
We enjoyed our visits with Susan Kousek from Balanced Spaces at our cafes in Fairfax and Ashburn in September. We learned about how to create a home inventory by taking photos and recording items in an Excel spreadsheet or in Word. Or how to take a video and talk about the items you’re focused on, but the method is harder to keep updated. Susan made the point that although we may think we know everything we own, we usually need to produce a home inventory after loss – for example, due to storm damage or fire. When we’re dealing with a crisis like this, it’s easy to forget things. Insurance companies also need to know things like how much an item cost and when it was purchased, so creating your list now, when you have more time to research might be easier. Susan also recommended that we contact our insurance company to determine the information it requires so we can replace the items we no longer have.

Susan covered other topics such as de-cluttering, time management, using a medical notebook, and managing paper. We all agreed that we could talk for much longer about medical records and paper stuff, so I’m pretty sure Susan will visiting a cafe near you again soon! In the meantime, click here for a handout (Do I love it?) with some questions to ask yourself while you’re sorting through your stuff. Click here for another handout (Do I love it? – for closets) with questions to help you clean out your closet.

A note about seasonal items . . . now is the time to donate your winter items to charity, as it is  difficult for them to store items between seasons. A couple of organizations that would really appreciate your donations are Women Giving Back for women’s clothing because they help homeless women who are looking for work. The Lamb Center was also recommended for both women and men’s clothing. Both organizations also appreciate other items like unopened make-up, toiletries, etc. Please check their websites for their wish lists.

Little Big Things™
Saturday, October 19,2019 from 3:30 pm ET
Where? Online, worldwide and from the comfort of your own home
What? A FREE dynamic community event inspired by innovations in Parkinson’s.

A Little Big Things™ event, presented by the Davis Phinney Foundation and Sunovion, is coming to Austin, TX on October 19 and YOU can watch live from anywhere by clicking here to register. Sign up today and tune in on October 19 at 3:30 pm ET for a dynamic event featuring thought leaders and innovators from around the world taking action to help people with Parkinson’s live better today.

Music Therapy for Parkinson’s
A couple of our friends attended the Kennedy Center REACH festival event on music therapy for Parkinson’s and wrote to tell me that “it was really excellent”. The instructor was Elizabeth Stegmoeller from Iowa State. (esteg@iastate.edu). It was also attended by Dianne Wawrzusin of the American Music Therapy Association. The association website has info on how to find music therapists in the area: www.musictherapy.org

The Arlington County 55+ program also has several music-related offerings.

Dance for Parkinson’s
The Kennedy Center will be having dance therapy for Parkinson’s events this fall and over the winter and spring.

Dance for Parkinson’s Disease: Mark Morris Dance Group
Saturday, November 16, 2019 11:00 AM
www.kennedy-center.org/calendar/event/EUEDE

Dance for Parkinson’s Disease: Lucy Bowen McCauley
Saturday, February 15, 2020 – Saturday, May 16, 2020
www.kennedy-center.org/calendar/event/EUEDR

They are free, but pre-registration is required. (Registration opens about a month before each event.) With the new REACH facilities, the Kennedy Center looks like it is expanding its offerings related to wellness.

From  Senior Services Alexandria
Senior Speaker Series Program – “Wellness: Mind, Body & Spirit”!
Thursday, October 17, 9:30 am – 12 Noon 
At: Beth El Hebrew Congregation, 3830 Seminary Road, Alexandria
Learn how you can benefit from alternative healing approaches, try out Tai Chi and Pilates exercise techniques, and get ideas on how to support an active life style through nutrition tips. Speakers will include the City’s Department of Recreation, Four Directions Wellness, Studio Body Logic and Inova Alexandria Hospital. This will be an informative and fun morning and it is all free with light refreshments.
RSVP online at www.seniorservicesalex.org or call 703-836-4414, ext. 110.

I hope this newsletter is helpful and we’ll see you Out & About soon!

Cheers,
Sonia
email: Sonia@ParkinsonSocialNetwork.org