Insight’s Sentimental Journey Singers featured on local TV
In September, Insight Memory Care Center partnered with Encore Creativity for Older Adults, to offer a chorus called the Sentimental Journey Singers for those diagnosed with early or beginning moderate Alzheimer’s and other memory impairments.

Local TV channel NBC 4 visited the chorus last Monday, November 18. Click here to read the article and view the video!

But wait! There’s more!
A Holiday Concert!
The Sentimental Journey Singers are currently getting ready for their first holiday concert! They will be joined with the Fairfax Encore Chorale on:
Sunday, December 1st from 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm
At St. George’s United Methodist Church
4910 Ox Rd., Fairfax  VA 22030.

It is a free concert, and no tickets are required. This performance will feature seasonal holiday classics and a variety of other choral favorites.
Contact Information:
Encore:    info@encorecreativity.org    |    301-261-5747

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Holiday Song and Social
Thursday, December 12, 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm
At: Capital Music Therapy Services
10560 Main Street, LL-12
Fairfax, VA 22030
Cost: $20 per/person paid on the day of the group. Cash or check. Spouse or caregiver attends for free.
Registration Deadline: Wednesday, December 11
For details RSVP: anna.piper@capitalmts.com

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Resources for people who are hard of hearing
Bonnie O’Leary, Outreach Manager for the Northern Virginia Resource Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Persons, visited our Cafe Fairfax last week. Bonnie played an audio tape that demonstrates how people with hearing loss hear at varying levels from mild to profound. She also shared with us some of the issues that people who are hard of hearing live with and how family and friends can make their lives a bit easier.
Another thing we learned was that certain medications can cause hearing loss or tinnitus in some people, or exacerbate an existing hearing problem. Bonnie shared a list of ototoxic medications with us, and you can click here to learn more.
Bonnie also suggested that Live Transcribe, an Android application that provides real-time captioning, could be helpful.

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Thank you, Bob Pearson for sharing information about this study with us!
Seeking Research Participants for “Smartwatch Technology -Symptom Monitoring” Study
Principal Investigator: Dr. Alexander Ksendzovsky, MD,PHD
Eligibility: Persons with Parkinson’s Disease
Age:18+
Description of Study: We are seeking patients to study a newly developed technology used to track symptoms in Parkinson’s disease. Patients are asked to wear a mobile smart watch and conduct routine clinical tests and tasks. Patients are first asked to spend up to four hours in clinic for neurological assessment while wearing the smartwatch. Patients may be asked to take the smartwatch home for seven days for further testing. The study can be arranged at times convenient for you at NewTouch Digital’s research facility or a location convenient for your participation.
Risks: No significant risk
Payment: A $100 gift certificate along with a lunch will be provided for participation.
Transportation will be provided if needed.
Please discuss participation with Dr. Alexander Ksendzovsky’s clinical team by emailing info@newtouchdigital.com or calling 412-478-1075.
WIRB IRB Study #20191934

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APDA symptom tracker
Susan Dietrich, Coordinator for the American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) in Charlottesville has been sharing information about a free app for the APDA symptom tracker. “It is a tool that you easily answer questions yes or no and it keeps track of your symptoms. Then, you can create a simple graph which can be saved in the “My Library” section of the app, and share it (you can email it) to your health care team.”

Susan recently shared that some people are wondering if this app acts as a “sensor” for collecting data about tremor, falls, etc., and she wanted us to know that it is not. There is a watch in development that may be able to act as a sensor, but it is not available at this time.
Click here for more information about the APDA symptom tracker app.

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Another helpful article from Parkinson’s Life.
How to plan nutritious easy-to-chew meals for people with Parkinson’s
Click here to read!

I hope this newsletter is helpful and we’ll see you Out & About soon! We’ll be at Cafe Ashburn on Wednesday. Will we see you there?

Wishing you all a happy Thanksgiving holiday!

Cheers,
Sonia
email: Sonia@ParkinsonSocialNetwork.org