Many Northern and Central California Parkinson’s support groups have guest speakers or programs planned for September 2014. Here’s what’s happening at a support group near you.
Please see the Stanford Parkinson’s website for the meeting location, day/time, contact info, and RSVP details (if an RSVP is required or preferred) for all Northern and Central California support groups:
parkinsons.stanford.edu/
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San Andreas (Calaveras County)
Tuesday, 9/2, 10am-noon
Guest Speaker: Bonnie Norby, community health assistant, Calaveras Health & Human Services Agency
Topic: Dealing with chronic illness
RSVP?: No.
Placerville
Tuesday, 9/2, 1:30-3pm
Group Discussion Topic: Preparing for emergencies
RSVP?: No.
Roseville
Tuesday, 9/2, 1:30-3pm
Guest Speaker: Larry Dawes, MSW, Eskaton
Topic: “What a chronic disease diagnosis can mean for your life”
RSVP?: No.
Soquel (note new location for Santa Cruz group as of September 2014)
Wednesday, 9/3, 12:30-2pm
Guest Speaker: Melanie Brandabur, MD, Clinic Director, The Parkinson’s Institute, Sunnyvale
RSVP?: No.
Orangevale
Thursday, 9/4, 10-11:15am
Guest Speaker: Tara McConnell, McConnell Music Therapy Services
RSVP?: No.
San Jose/Willow Glen
Friday, 9/5, 10-11:45am
Guest Speaker #1: Jim Fowler, singer, songwriter, teacher
Guest Speaker #2: Patricia Maxwell, Maxwell Senior Care Services
Topic for #2: How care managers can support PD families
Visalia
Friday, 9/5, 10:30am-noon
Guest Speaker: Darci Alexander
Program: Participatory tai chi demonstration
RSVP?: No.
Yuba City (Tri-County)
Monday, 9/8, 1-2:30pm
Guest Speaker: Chrystal Pigee, Abbvie PD patient advocacy program
Topics: Tools and resources to help patients hold a productive conversation with doctors about concerns and treatment expectations
RSVP?: No.
Pacific Grove (Monterey County)
Tuesday, 9/9, 3-4:30pm
Program: Two discussion groups – those with PD and care partners
RSVP?: No.
Turlock
Wednesday, 9/10, 1-2pm
Guest Speakers: Brian McKone and Jennifer Fry, Medtronic representatives, Fresno
Topic: “Surgical Options in Parkinson’s Disease”
RSVP?: No.
Palo Alto
Wednesday, 9/10, 2-3:30pm
Guest Speaker: Deborah Bolding, PhD, OTR/L, occupational therapist
Topic: “Farewell to Falls”
RSVP?: No.
Oakland
Thursday, 9/11, 1:30-3pm
Guest Speaker: Chad Christine, MD, neurologist, UCSF Parkinson’s Clinic
Topic: Gene therapy in PD
RSVP?: No.
Millbrae (Magnolia)
Thursday, 9/11, 1:30-3pm
Group Discussion Topic: Neuro-plasticity. What do you know about the subject? Does it influence the choices you make for self-care?
Stockton
Thursday, 9/11, 1:30-3pm
Guest Speaker: Bing Hui, director, Stockton Center of Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan Association
Topic: “Tai chi – great exercise for fitness and balance”
RSVP?: No.
San Francisco DBS (Deep Brain Stimulation) Group
Thursday, 9/11, 6-8pm
Guest Speakers: Fedor Panov, MD, neurosurgery fellow, UCSF, and Svjetlana Miocinovid, MD, movement disorder fellow, UCSF
RSVP?: Yes, preferred but not required.
Chico (note different day for September meeting only)
Friday, 9/12, 1:30-3pm
Guest Speaker: Joel Rothfeld, MD, neurologist in private practice, Chico
Topic: “Getting the most out of your appointment”
RSVP?: No.
Fresno
Saturday, 9/13, 10am-noon
Guest Speaker: Edward Law, volunteer ombudsman for seniors and other living in care facilities
RSVP?: No.
Los Altos YOPD (Young Onset PD)
Saturday, 9/13, 10am-noon
Guest Speaker #1: Helen Garvy, Parkinson’s Cannabis Project
Topic for Speaker #1: Cannabis (medical marijuana) and PD
Guest Speaker #2: Colleen Fisher
Topic for Speaker #2: Plans for NPF’s Moving Day
RSVP?: No.
Note: People of all ages are welcome to attend.
Auburn
Tuesday, 9/16, 1:30-3pm
Guest Speakers: Marilyn Riley, HICAP (health insurance counseling and advocacy program)
Topic: Changes in Medicare
RSVP?: No.
San Jose/The Villages
Tuesday, 9/16, 2-3:30pm
Guest Speaker: Kujiweza Healing Arts Institute
Topic: “You have just been diagnosed with Parkinson’s: what can you do to maintain your level of ability?”
RSVP?: Required if you are not a resident of The Villages. Contact group leader in advance about access.
Sunnyvale DBS (Deep Brain Stimulation) Group
Wednesday, 9/17, 1:30-3pm
Guest Speaker: Arshia Sadreddin, MD, movement disorder specialist, California Pacific Medical Center, San Francisco
Topics: Introduction to CPMC and review of current PD/DBS research
RSVP?: If this is your first time attending, an RSVP is requested.
Davis
Thursday, 9/18, 1:30-3pm
Program: Short video on benefits of exercise, and discussion on this topic
RSVP?: No.
Walnut Creek
Saturday, 9/20, 10am-noon (guest speaker from 11am-noon)
Guest Speaker: Tracy Dominguez, PT, physical therapist, John Muir Therapy Center, Pleasant Hill
Topic: Movement strategies for PDers
RSVP?: No.
Mill Valley (Marin County)
Tuesday, 9/23, 1-3pm
Guest Speaker: Linda Sheridan
Topic: “The Art of Moving” – ideas from John Argue and description of a new movement class