Parkinson Social NetworkA Week of Twos
The number 2 featured twice this week with 2 cafes and a 2nd anniversary!
June cafes
Cafe Alexandria- June 18
Mary Lee Anderson, Executive Director of Senior Services of Alexandria (SSA) joined us this month to talk about the services her organization offers. The people of Alexandria are very fortunate to have this organization in their area! When it comes to food, SSA offers Meals on Wheels and Groceries to Go (volunteers deliver pre-ordered groceries for free), and there’s also AniMeals on Wheels for pets. DOT Paratransit provides transportation for disabled residents for only $3.00 within city limits and up to 5 miles outside city limits, and $5.00 for trips over five miles outside the city – both fares are one way. There’s also a Silver Service Card for discounts at participating businesses. Through their Friendly Visitor Program, volunteers visit socially isolated seniors for at least an hour each week – a special and personal way to help connect people with each other and the world around them!
In addition to the programs offered by SSA, we also learned about Smart911, a service which allows residents to provide information such as medical issues, emergency contacts, and more, in advance so that emergency responders can better assist them. For more information visit alexandriava.gov/911. For more information about the many programs Senior Services of Alexandria offers go to seniorservicesalex.org.
Cafe Fairfax – June 20
This week we celebrated the 2nd anniversary of our first Cafe Fairfax at Insight Memory Care Center! Because donuts are a key part of our cafes, we munched on a yummy giant chocolate donut cake.
Our conversation was about hobbies and things we do, or did, in our spare time, and led to a bit of a history lesson. We began by hearing the stories behind some of the paintings an artist brought. Then we learned about the art of making baskets and a handmade broom, and how to transport 400 lbs of broom corn! We also learned how pewter spoons and bowls can be made, and felt the weight of the molds. Next, we learned about the Wieliczka Salt Mine in Poland, as well as some of it’s considerable history given that it has been in operation since the 1300’s.
Some other activities we talked about were gardening, photography, and procrastination baking. Have you heard of the latter? It’s when a person chooses to bake in order to avoid doing something else they probably should be doing. When I looked this up on Google I learned a new word – procrastibaker. I think that’s how our giant donut cake came to be!
Thank you to everyone who shared their interests with us! Although Parkinson’s is what brings us together, we have so many interesting and fun things about living our lives that we can share and learn from each other.
Hope to see you out and about soon! How about Cafe Ashburn or to hear the Inova Movement Disorders Team next week? Check out our Community Events page for new events!
Cheers,
Sonia
email: Sonia@ParkinsonSocialNetwork.org
Sharing and Learning
June cafes
Cafe McLean – June 13
After enjoying a very yummy lunch provided by our hosts at Lewinsville Retirement Residence (thank you!), our conversation about hobbies and things we do in our free time turned into an origami lesson. Some of you may remember when Marcia brought some origami creations to Cafe Fairfax in April last year – in 
particular her legendary butterfly ball. She brought some new ones yesterday, which we admired with lots of oohs and aahs. Despite our protests that we couldn’t create something in a million years, Marcia patiently taught us how to make some origami critters that hopped! It was lots of fun – thank you, Marcia!
The photos above and right are of a kaleidescope that Marcia brought. On the left are my attempts – frog (green), bunny (yellow) and grasshopper (red). And yes, they do hop!
Next week is a two-cafe week!
We’ll meet at Cafe Alexandria on Monday and Mary Lee Anderson, Executive Director of Senior Services of Alexandria will be our visitor. On Wednesday we’ll meet at Cafe Fairfax and share our hobbies or things we do in our spare time – past and/or present. If you have something you’d like to share please bring it along. It’s also the 2nd anniversary of our cafes so we’re pretty excited about that! For more information about our cafes this month, please scroll down.
And in other news . . .
I had quite a variety of things pop up in my inbox this week, so the following may seem kind of an odd collection of bits and pieces.
Smovey Vibroswing
Nope, that’s not a typo. Susan Dietrich, our recent visitor from the American Parkinson Disease Association, learned about Smovey Vibroswing at a recent local support group and suggested I check it out. I’ve never heard of it before and don’t know how to describe it, so if you’re curious it’s probably best if you check out their website www.smoveynorthamerica.com.
Inova’s Parkinson’s and Movement Disorders team to speak on June 28
I hope you received the separate email that went out about this event. If not, please check in on our Community Events page. Apart from talking about a new App that can help people live well with Parkinson’s, there will be an extended question and answer session with Doctors Rogers and Falconer regarding all aspects of Parkinson’s care.
UStep Walker to Give Away
This is an original model and has been rehabilitated by the current owner. It does have the optional laser light. The center front wheel mechanism is non-functional due to a broken weld but works well inside and outside. If you are interested, please contact me at Sonia@ParkinsonSocialNetwork.org and I will connect you with the owner.
Two New Memory Cafes
Two new Memory Cafes are starting this month! One starts in Arlington on June 14 and in Alexandria on June 26. I’ve attached flyers for each one – please click on the location closest to you. 1) Arlington 2) Alexandria
PD Summer School at Bastyr University, Seattle
This will be a unique week packed full of strategies and tips designed to improve the lives of individuals with Parkinson’s Disease, facilitated by Dr. Laurie Mischley in collaboration with Bastyr University. Deadline is today, June 15, but I thought I’d pass the message on in case anyone is interested. More information at www.bastyrpdschool.org
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day Event
In recognition of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, Loudoun County Adult Protective Services & Loudoun County Area Agency on Aging present Paul Greenwood, Retired Deputy District Attorney, Former Head of Elder Abuse Prosecution Unit, San Diego DA’s Office.
When: Thursday, June 21, 2018, 9:00 am – 4:00 am
Where: Cascades Overlook Event Center
21453 Epicerie Plaza, Sterling, VA 20164
More information on our Community Events page or on the Loudoun Senior Interest Network website.
origami tomatoes!
Hope to see you out and about soon!
Maybe at our cafes in Alexandria or Fairfax?
Cheers,
Sonia
email: Sonia@ParkinsonSocialNetwork.org
Parkinson Social Network 