Parkinson Social NetworkHelp with Micrographia
Micrographia
I often hear people talking about how sad and frustrated they are with how small their handwriting is. The abnormally small handwriting that people with Parkinson’s experience is called micrographia, and can be one of the early signs of Parkinson’s.
I’ve just learned about a workbook called Let’s Combat Micrographia that can help people improve their handwriting. It’s available through their website, Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Click here to learn more.
July Side by Side Support Groups at VHC
Last Wednesday, Dr. Drew Falconer, MD and Co-Director of Inova’s Parkinson’s and Movement Disorders Program, visited our Side by Side support groups to answer our questions about medications and symptoms. Each group – people with Parkinson’s and carepartners – had the opportunity to talk to Dr. Falconer separately. We really appreciated that he could spend so much time with us.
Thank you, too, to those of you who brought delicious homemade munchies to share!
Next month at our Side by Side support groups, we will be visited by Dr. Melanie Bush, a physical therapist who will be showing each group various solutions for questions like, how do I get out of bed, or in and out of a car? How can a carepartner help a spouse up from the floor? If you have questions like these that you would like Dr. Bush to answer, please send them to me at Sonia@ParkinsonSocialNetwork.org so she can bring the appropriate gadgets and gizmos.
Can you help?
We are looking to borrow a transport wheelchair for a friend living with Parkinson’s. It would be needed for a couple of months.
We’re also looking for a chair with arms, on wheels, that can’t be tipped back. It would need to be high enough so the person could use it to sit at his desk. Something like this:
If you can help, please contact me at Sonia@ParkinsonSocialNetwork.org. Thanks!
Reminder!
Healthy Aging Lecture Series: Parkinson’s Disease: A Panel Discussion
Friday, July 26, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
At: Virginia Hospital Center, Carlin Springs Campus
601 S. Carlin Springs Rd., Arlington VA 22204
Panel participants:
– Sonia Gow, Founder and President, Parkinson Social Network
– Diana Gilbert, Dir. of Personal Care Services, Old Dominion Home Care
– Cathleen Renkiewicz PT, DPT, Board Certified Geriatric Clinical Specialist, Virginian Rehabilitation and Wellness Services
– Briana Howard, Virginian Home Health
This lecture is FREE and sponsored by Virginia Hospital Center’s Senior Health Department. To register, please call the Senior Health Department: 703.558.6859 or email lifeline@VirginiaHospitalCenter.com
Hope this newsletter is helpful and we’ll see you Out & About soon! This week is a two-cafe week . . . Alexandria (with their famous sundae bar!) and Fairfax (what would you do for a Klondike bar?) Will we see you there?
Cheers,
Sonia
email: Sonia@ParkinsonSocialNetwork.org
Parkinson’s and the Gut Microbiome
I’ve been seeing more and more articles about Parkinson’s starting in the gut. Thank you to Diane Sherman, (Coordinator, The Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders Resource Center, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center) for the following information she featured in her newsletter 7/2/19. If you’re interested in this topic, she’s provided several avenues to explore.
The Gut-Brain Connection and the Gut Microbiome
“At our Parkinson’s education day on June 1 in Lebanon, NH, Ana Maria Moise, MS, CNS, LDN, licensed clinical nutritionist, presented a superb talk entitled “Exploring the Gut-Brain Connection: Microbes, Nutrition and Parkinson’s Disease.”
I have had several inquiries about Ana Maria’s book, The Gut Microbiome: Exploring the Connection between Microbes, Diet, and Health, which can be purchased on Amazon for $58.00. It is a clearly written and fascinating book.
To access notes from Ana Maria Moise’s presentation on June 1, click here.
For a review on the gut-brain connection and Parkinson’s disease by Jonathan Grinstein that was published on February 12, 2019 in Parkinson’s News Today, click here.”
Carolyn and Trisha are once again offering their special program for people with Parkinson’s.
Growing Resilience: Mindfulness and Body Awareness for People with Parkinson’s Disease.
When: Beginning with a kickoff weekend Saturday, September 28 and Sunday, September 29, and followed by 4 Sundays in October
At: Emmaus United Church of Christ – 900 Maple Ave E, Vienna, VA
Cost: $345.00
This 6-week class series is designed to bring the benefits of mindfulness and body connection to people with Parkinson’s, and empower them towards greater inner resilience, well-being and quality of life. We combine strategies and techniques drawn from the clinically studied Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction program with therapeutic yoga practices. Each class will include an adaptive yoga practice. All elements improve breath, movement, and body awareness, while reducing body tension and addressing symptoms of depression and anxiety often experienced by people with Parkinson’s. Participants will receive follow-up support for each 2-hour class, including a weekly video download offering a short home practice highlighting adaptive yoga-based movements to improve stability, balance, and flexibility.
Participants will also receive (2) 60-minute private sessions—one each with Trisha and Carolyn respectively, designed to help customize supportive home practices further. SPACE IS LIMITED.
The class will be co-led by long-time MBSR instructor Trisha Stotler, and Heart Tree Yoga owner and certified yoga therapist Carolyn Black-Bagdoyan, creator of THRIVE: Supporting People with Parkinson’s Through Yoga Therapeutics.
Questions? hearttreeyoga@gmail.com or 703-862-5922.
Insight Memory Care Center has been getting Out and About to provide their educational programs in locations other than at Insight’s location in Fairfax. I’ve listed a couple of programs here, and there are more on Insight’s events calendar (click here). You can also click here to sign up for Insight’s emails for first-hand information about their events.
Taking Care of Yourself: Tips to Survive Caregiving
Monday, July 15, 2019, 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm
Where: Shirlington Library, 4200 Campbell Ave, Arlington, VA 22206
A caregiver’s needs are always at the bottom of the list. Learn more about the impact of caregiving, while also developing strategies for self-care, ways to deal with stress and how to maintain a healthy lifestyle and take care of yourself!
Lindsey Vajpeyi, Director of Education and Outreach, will be presenting this program.
RSVP: Register online, or contact Lindsey Vajpeyi at 703-204-4664 or lindsey.vajpeyi@insightmcc.org.
Memory Screenings at Lee Senior Center
Thursday, July 18th, 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Where: Lee Senior Center, 5722 Lee Hwy, Arlington, VA 22207
Concerned about your memory? A memory screening is a simple and safe evaluation tool that checks memory and other thinking skills. It can indicate whether an additional check up by a qualified healthcare professional is needed. Stop in for a free screening!
Lindsey Vajpeyi, Director of Education and Outreach, will be providing free memory screenings from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm.
RSVP: Learn more online, or contact Adriana Carr at 703-228-0555
We’re in full swing with our summer events starting this week. At our Side by Side support groups on Wednesday, July 10, Dr. Drew Falconer will be answering our questions. And on Thursday, July 11 independent support group leaders are meeting for lunch.
I hope we’ll see you Out & About soon!
Cheers,
Sonia
email: Sonia@ParkinsonSocialNetwork.org
Parkinson Social Network 