G'day from South Australia - 2019
I'm back in South Australia visiting my mum for her 94th birthday. She lives in a residential care community and fell again on my first night here. Fortunately, she tends to land on her bottom so she's ok. She's fallen like this a few times in the last year, usually at night when she goes to the bathroom, and when I saw her slippers I had a pretty good clue as to why. She has a pair of sheepskin booties but is slipping her feet into them as though they were clogs with her heel crushing the back of the shoe instead of having it surround her heel. This means that her feet aren't positioned securely in her shoes. We also realized that with her feet swollen due to circulatory issues she needs to be able to just slide her feet into her shoes when she's putting them on by herself in the night so we decided to get slipper scuffs. Fingers crossed that they do the trick!
Sometimes we need to do a bit of detective work to figure out why someone is falling or why there's been a change in behavior. I've only got a few days to observe mum and work with the staff to organize things for her, but they really are so good with her. Their care is truly person-centered and their affection for her is genuine.
 The photo on the right was taken in my friend's front yard. I'm told this is what happens when koalas overindulge on gum leaves but I don't know . . . I read that koalas getting drunk on eucalyptus leaves is a myth. Actually, it reminds me of trying to sleep on the plane . . .
Rock Steady Boxing NOVA is opening another location in Alexandria!
Alec is currently developing a waiting list, so please contact him at nova@rsbaffiliate.com or 571-730-8553 if you want to add your name to the list. The faster the waiting list grows, the faster Alec can get the program started. The location of the class is TBD.
American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) news
APDA Symptom Tracker app
APDA is offering a FREE symptom app available from Google Play for Android and from the Apple Store for iPhone. With it you'll be able to:
• Keep track of your symptoms - including tremors, rigidity, balance and more.
• Create your report, share with your care team, or save to your library.
• Consult with your doctor for more personalized resources and support.
Click here for more details.
Webcast:
Spotlight on Parkinson’s Disease: Getting Motivated to Move!
Parkinson’s disease affects the person diagnosed and everyone who is close to that person: family members, friends and co-workers. We invite you to view our latest webcast in the “Spotlight” series, Spotlight on Parkinson’s Disease: Getting Motivated to Move!
This webcast is an archive of the live web/teleconference education program that was held on July 10, 2019.
Speaker: Terry Ellis, PhD, PT
Click here for more details.
Davis Phinney Foundation news
Women and Parkinson's with Dr. Michelle Fullard
Wednesday, August 7, 2019, at 2pm EST
During this 60-minute educational presentation, Dr. Fullard will address:
• Symptom presentation differences
• Motor and non-motor symptom differences
• Differences in Parkinson's progression
• Accessibility of care
• Caregiver issues
• Disparities in outcomes
• Quality of life differences
• And much more
You’ll also have a chance to ask Dr. Fullard your questions. If you're interested in how Parkinson's affects women specifically, from sleep to cognitive and emotional impacts, this webinar may be the perfect fit for you. To register for this free webinar (that you can join from the comfort of your own home), click here. If you’re unable to make it at the scheduled time, Davis Phinney Foundation suggests that you register anyway and they send you a recording as soon as it’s available.
You Can't Exercise Your Way Out of Poor Social Connections
This article on the Davis Phinney Foundation blog has special meaning for me. I am often told, particularly by people who are relatively newly diagnosed, how alone they've felt prior to meeting others living with Parkinson's. I've seen what a difference connecting with others and sharing their similar experiences can make to a person. It is what motivates your friends at Parkinson Social Network to offer a variety of ways for people to connect with each other, and also share events with you through this newsletter and on our website.
Click here to read the article with additional suggestions for how to connect and be social.
Reminder . . . Victory Summit in Philadelphia on August 24.
Click here for details. Registration is free! And you'll see some familiar faces, too.
The Golden Gazette
The August issue of Fairfax County's Golden Gazette includes an announcement on page 21 about our August Side by Side support groups featuring a visit by Dr. Melanie Bush. I want to send a shout out to the Golden Gazette editors for their many efforts to get the word out about our Parkinson Social Network and events. Thank you to you and all your staff!
If you'd like to learn more about the Golden Gazette, click here to subscribe. It's free!
To learn more about what Fairfax County offers older adults, click here.
Dance for PD®
Dance for PD® released it's streamed class this month. Anyone can join these classes from the comfort of their home! This particular class is taught by David Leventhal, Program Director and Dance for PD® Founding Teacher. Click here to view and participate in David's class. You'll find more information on the Keep Moving page on our website.
Learn What the Loudoun County Area Agency on Aging Can Do for You!
Thursday, October 3 from 11:50 am- 12:50 pm
If you live in Loudoun county you might find this course a helpful way to learn about the services and programs offered by the Loudoun Area Agency on Aging. You'll receive an overview of these programs and services, with an explanation of how to access them, as well as an information packet.
Ruth Ann sent us this information from the OLLI GMU fall catalogue, and it is course #973. Click here for more information.
I hope this newsletter is helpful and we'll see you Out & About soon!
Cheers,
Sonia
email: Sonia@ParkinsonSocialNetwork.org
website: www.ParkinsonSocialNetwork.org
|
|
|
All underlined words and phrases are links for email or websites.
Parts of Out & About will be posted on our blog or community events pages.
There's also an archive for previous newsletters here.
|
|
Our events in August
Please help us with planning
and click on the links to RSVP for the events you'd like to attend
or send an email to Sonia@ParkinsonSocialNetwork.org.
Family and friends are welcome to join us, too! |
|
|
Side by Side Support Groups - Wednesday, August 14
For those with Parkinson’s and those who care . . .
10:30 am - 12:30 pm (light refreshments/potluck* - click here to RSVP)
2nd Wednesday of each month at
Virginia Hospital Center, Urgent Care - Carlin Springs
601 S Carlin Springs Rd, Arlington, VA 22204
Enter via the Urgent Care Center entrance, turn right into the Wellness Room
Dr. Melanie Rochon Bush, DHSc, PT, NHA, CPCO will be visiting us and answering our "how do I?" questions. Questions like:
How do I get out of bed? How do I get in and out of a car? How do I help my spouse get up off the floor? How do I help my spouse transfer from one chair to another?
A new kind of support group in Northern Virginia!
Two support groups, each in their own space next to each other.
1) For caregivers – to share and learn from each other
2) For people with Parkinson’s – to engage in group activities and share with each other.
Free and all are welcome!
*If you'd like to bring munchies to share, they will definitely be appreciated!
To help us with planning, please let us know if you’d like to attend.
Click here to RSVP or email Sonia@ParkinsonSocialNetwork.org
|
|
|
At our cafes
Did you know that August 16 is National Tell a Joke Day? No kidding!
None of our cafes occur on this day, so we'll make a month of it.
Bring your favorite jokes and we'll have a good time relaxing with lots of laughs!
|
|
|
Cafe Alexandria - Monday, August 19
11:00 am to 1:00 pm (light lunch - click here to RSVP )
3rd Monday of each month at:
Brandywine Living at Alexandria
5550 Cardinal Place, Alexandria, VA 22304 map
(703) 940-3300
PARKING is underground and accessible from the back of the building.
|
|
|
Cafe Fairfax - Wednesday, August 21
10:00 am to 12 noon (coffee & donuts - click here to RSVP)
3rd Wednesday of each month at:
Insight Memory Care Center,
Linda and Lou Mazawey Education & Support Center
3955 Pender Drive, Suite 100, Fairfax, VA 22030 map
(703) 204-4664
DIRECTIONS:
From Waples Mill Road turn onto Pender Drive.
Then turn right at the 2nd driveway;
head straight back,
the road will curve around to the left and 3955 will be on your left.
But wait! There's more!
Classes for Caregivers follow Cafe Fairfax from 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
- Topic for August: Are they doing that on purpose?
- Communication, both expressive and receptive, often becomes difficult as you struggle to meet the needs of your loved one. Learn some communication skills that can help ease the frustration and lead to successful interactions.
We are welcome to stay at Insight after the cafe, and participate in this program that is specifically designed to assist family caregivers.
All sessions are FREE, and respite care may be available by request; please notify us when registering to confirm availability.
To register, contact Lindsey Vajpeyi at lindsey.vajpeyi@insightmcc.org or 703-204-4664.
Click here to check out Insight's events calendar for details about their other classes, workshops, support groups, and social events.
|
|
|
Cafe Ashburn - Wednesday, August 28
11:00 am to 1:00 pm (light lunch - click here to email your RSVP)
4th Wednesday of each month at:
Waltonwood at Ashburn
44141 Russell Branch Pkwy, Ashburn, VA 20147 map
It's not far from our previous location - about 2 minutes more down the road.
Call (571) 266-1810 for directions.
|
|
|
At our cafés we help each other
to make the most of life with Parkinson's.
We welcome anyone living with Parkinson's and related movement disorders, as well as family and friends. You'll find more information about our cafes on our Cafes page.
Come for the coffee, stay for the company and conversation!
|
|
|
With your contribution we can continue to educate, advocate, support and enrich the lives of those touched by Parkinson's disease.
Click here or on the button below to . . .
Parkinson Social Network
is registered as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. |
|
|
If you've received this email from a friend and would like to receive our newsletters directly, please click here to register your email address.
About unsubscribing . . .
If you've received this email from a friend, and do not wish to receive anymore, please contact your friend. If you unsubscribe through the link below, you will unsubscribe your friend, instead of yourself.
|
|
|
Disclaimer:
The inclusion of announcements, logos or website links on this site does not constitute an endorsement by the Parkinson Social Network of the products, programs or services we include in our newsletters or on our website.
|
|
|
|
|
