Many Northern and Central California Parkinson’s support groups have guest speakers or programs planned for March 2014. Here’s what’s happening at a support group near you.
Please see the Stanford APDA’s list of PD support groups for the meeting location, day/time, contact info, and RSVP details (if an RSVP is required or preferred).
What does it mean if a support group you sometimes attend isn’t listed below? It might mean that the group doesn’t have its regular meeting this month, or the group is having a social event. Or it might mean that this month’s meeting doesn’t have a guest speaker. Or it might mean that the guest speaker info didn’t arrive from the group in time to be added here. Last but not least, it could mean that I messed up. If you are not a regular attendee of a group, it’s always a good idea to call the group leader to confirm the meeting! (Stanford APDA’s list of PD support groups includes group leader contact info.)
Santa Rosa (Sonoma County)
Saturday, 3/1, 1-3:15pm (guest speaker is 1-2pm)
Guest Speaker: Robert Leavitt, physical therapist, Santa Rosa
Topic: LSVT BIG
RSVP?: No.
Lodi
Monday, 3/3, 10-11am
Guest Speaker: Terri Whitmeir, Hutchins Street Senior Center, Lodi
RSVP?: No.
San Andreas (Calaveras County)
Tuesday, 3/4, 10am-noon
Guest Speaker: Debbie Nelson, ResCare HomeCare Services
RSVP?: No.
Roseville
Tuesday, 3/4, 1:30-3pm
Guest Speakers: Warren Hutson and StemGenic representative Rita Alexander
Topics: Mr. Hutson’s experience with stem cell treatment and
hyperbaric oxygen chamber
RSVP?: No.
Santa Cruz
Wednesday, 3/5, 12:30-2pm
Guest Speakers: Two (human) representatives from Canine Companions
for Independence, along with service dogs
RSVP?: No.
San Lorenzo (San Leandro)
Thursday, 3/6, 10-11:30am
Guest Speaker: Cynthia Eaton
Topic: Gentle movement for active aging
RSVP?: No.
San Jose – Willow Glen
Friday, 3/7, 10am-noon (program starts about 10:20am)
Guest Speaker: Dedra Jize, OT, CSA, geriatric care manager, Law
Office of Roy W. Litherland, Campbell
Topic: Life planning — having your affairs in order and what that may look like
RSVP?: No.
Visalia
Friday, 3/7, 10:30am-noon
Program: “Daily Living with PD” video
RSVP?: No.
Ft. Bragg
Friday, 3/7, 2-3pm
Guest Speaker: Peter Glusker, MD, neurologist
RSVP?: No.
Fresno
Saturday, 3/8, 10am-noon
Guest Speaker: Stephanie Camaroda, MSW, social worker
Topic: Depression
RSVP?: No.
Pleasanton
Saturday, 3/8, 10am-noon
Guest Speaker: Karen Campbell, Home Link For Seniors, Walnut Creek
Topic: When is the right time to look for placement
RSVP?: No.
Yuba City (Tri-County)
Monday, 3/10, 1-2pm
Guest Speakers: Shawn Christensen, PT, and Valarie Neil-Neits, OT
Topic: Strengthening and stretching exercises for improved mobility
RSVP?: No.
Lakeport
Monday, 3/10, 2-3:30pm
Guest Speaker: Susan Polesel, speech/language pathologist, Ukiah
Topic: Swallowing Issues in PD
RSVP?: Yes, preferred. Contact Phil Myers, phone 707-263-4624,
email phillip.e.myers@att.net.
San Francisco
Tueday, 3/11, 4:30-6pm
Guest Speaker: Rima Ash, MD, movement disorder specialist, Kaiser
San Francisco
Topic: Complementary alternative medicine and exercise
RSVP?: No.
Palo Alto
Wednesday, 3/12, 2-3:30pm
Guest Speaker: Geoffrey Kerchner, MD, PhD, behavioral neurologist,
Stanford Center for Memory Disorders
Topic: What is Lewy Body Dementia?
RSVP?: No.
Oakland
Thursday, 3/13, 1:30-3pm
Guest Speaker: Georges Naasan, MD, neurologist, UCSF
Topic: Hallucinations and Delusions in PD
RSVP?: Yes, required. RSVP to Joyce Sakai, forum@pdactive.org,
phone 510-525-5166, or Grant Bennett, phone 510-234-5431.
Millbrae/Magnolia
Thursday, 3/13, 1:30-3pm
Guest Speaker: Melanie Brandabur, MD, movement disorder specialist,
The Parkinson’s Institute, Sunnyvale
Topic: Living Well with Parkinson’s
RSVP?: No.
Stockton
Thursday, 3/13, 1:30-3pm
Guest Speaker: Matt Arnold, MD, movement disorder specialist, Sutter East Bay (changed since 3/1)
Topic: Living Well with Parkinson’s: Understanding PD and Current Therapies
RSVP?: No.
Redding
Friday, 3/14, 1-3pm
Guest Speaker: Brian Terres, Medtronic
Topics: DBS and Other Treatment Options for PD
RSVP?: No.
Walnut Creek
Saturday, 3/15, 10am-noon (guest speaker from 11am-noon)
Guest Speaker: Loren Pedersen, Ph.D., clinical psychologist, pain management expert, and biofeedback therapist (change since 3/10)
Topic: Dealing with Chronic Illness
RSVP?: No.
Folsom
Monday, 3/17, 10am-noon
Guest Speaker: Love Miller, outreach specialist, CTAP
Topic: California Telephone Access Program
RSVP?: No.
Lincoln
Tuesday, 3/18, 10-11am
Guest Speaker: Empire Driving School
Topic: Safe Driving
RSVP?: No.
Auburn
Tuesday, 3/18, 1:30-2:30pm
Guest Speaker: Laura Conrad, victim advocate, Placer County DA Victim Services
Topic: Protecting Yourself from Criminal Elder Abuse
RSVP?: No.
Sacramento – Arden
Thursday, 3/20, 10am-noon
Guest Speaker: Cathy Vincent, director of speech pathology, Vincent
Associates Speech Pathology
Topic: LSVT LOUD
RSVP?: No.
Mill Valley (Marin County) (updated as of 3/13)
Tuesday, 3/25, 1-3pm (Program is from 1-2pm)
Guest Speaker: Torri Campbell, Parkinson’s Dance Project
Program: Short video on PDP followed by a 30-40 minute dance class
RSVP?: No.
If you know of a PD support group meeting with a guest speaker, please pass the info along!