Many Northern and Central California Parkinson’s support groups have guest speakers or programs planned for May 2015. Here’s what’s happening at a support group near you.
Do you need to know the meeting location, day/time, contact info, and how to RSVP if required? Please refer to the Stanford Parkinson’s website for all Northern and Central California support groups.
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San Jose/Willow Glen
Friday, 5/1, 10-11:45am (program starts about 10:20am)
Guest Speaker: Birgitt Schuele, PhD, director of gene discovery and
stem cell modeling, The Parkinson’s Institute, Sunnyvale
Topic: Dr. Schuele’s latest research in stem cells
RSVP?: No.
Visalia
Friday, 5/1, 10:30am-noon
Guest Speaker: Perminder Bhatia, MD, neurologist, Neuropain Medical
Center, Fresno
Topic: Living Well with PD
RSVP?: No.
Santa Rosa (Sonoma County)
Saturday, 5/1, 1-3:15pm (guest speaker from 1-2pm)
Guest Speakers: Gary Johanson, MD, medical director, Memorial Hospice,
and Dorothy Foster, MFT, family therapist in private practice, Santa Rosa
Topic: Advanced Health Care Planning
RSVP?: No.
Lodi
Monday, 5/4, 10-11am
Guest Speaker: Pretti Oza, PT, PhD, NCS, physical therapist, University
of the Pacific, Stockton
Topic: Exercises for Parkinson’s: What Do We Know From Research?
RSVP?: No.
Placerville
Tuesday, 5/5, 1:30-3pm
Discussion topics: How to best access and use information about PD.
What are the various sources of info. How can support groups be best
organized to collect, dispense, and digest all this info.
RSVP?: No.
Roseville
Tuesday, 5/5, 1:30-3pm
Guest Speaker: Ehsan Hadi, MD, neurologist, Mercy Medical Group, Carmichael
Topic: General info about PD
RSVP?: No.
Soquel (Santa Cruz County)
Wednesday, 5/6, 1-2:30pm
Guest Speaker: Brad Sadek, CHP officer
Topic: Safe driving practices for seniors and those with disabilities
RSVP?: No.
San Lorenzo
Thursday, 5/7, 10-11:30am
Guest Speaker: Love Miller, representative, California Telephone Access
Program
Topic: Phones and better communication
RSVP?: No.
Redding
Friday, 5/8, 12:30-3pm (speaker from 1-3pm)
Guest Speaker: Margaret McNamara, client advocate, Passages Mountain
Caregiver Resource Center, Chico
Topics: AD and Dementia 101, with an emphasis on Lewy Body Disease.
Program will include question and answer on depression.
RSVP?: No.
Fresno
Saturday, 5/9, 10am-noon
Guest Speaker #1: Mariana Ramirez, representative, St. Agnes Medical Center
Topic #1: “A Healthier You” program on chronic conditions
Guest Speaker #2: Bruce Medlin, co-chair of Fresno PD support group
Topic #2: Different options for emergency alert devices and services
RSVP?: No.
Yuba City (Tri-County)
Monday, 5/11, 1-2pm
Guest Speaker: Yuba City Police Department representative
Topic: Safety and crime in the Yuba/Sutter area
RSVP?: No.
Bakersfield
Tuesday, 5/12, 2-4pm
Guest Speaker: Sandeep Thakkar, DO, movement disorder specialist, Hoag
Neurosciences Institute, Newport Beach
RSVP?: No.
Palo Alto Young Onset PD (YOPD)
Tuesday, 5/12, 6:30-8pm
Guest Speaker: Veronica Santini, MD, movement disorder specialist,
Stanford University
Topics: Sexual and Urinary Aspects of PD
RSVP?: Yes, if this is your first time attending. Contact group leader
Martha Gardner, mgapda@gmail.com, several days before the meeting.
Turlock
Wednesday, 5/13, 1-2pm
Program: Divide into two groups — caregivers and care recipients. Care
recipients will make baskets of appreciation for caregivers.
RSVP?: Yes, preferred to group leader Paul Barnes,
pabarnes@covenantretirement.org
Palo Alto
Wednesday, 5/13, 2-3:30pm
Program: Parkinson’s exercise demonstration class. 90-minute class on
strength, balance, and stretch. Class led by Stephanie Happe and Jen
Quillen, PD exercise program instructors, YMCA. No equipment needed but
bring your own water bottle. Exercises can be done seated.
RSVP?: No.
Lakeport
Wednesday, 5/13, 6:30pm-8:30pm (meeting day/time change for May only)
Location: TNT on the Lake (meeting location change for May only)
Guest Speaker: Lin Zhang, MD, PhD, movement disorder specialist, UC Davis
Topics: Parkinson’s Treatment and Research
RSVP?: Yes, required to group leader Phil Myers,
phillip.e.myers@att.net, a couple of days before the meeting. Dinner
will be provided.
Oakland
Thursday, 5/14, 1:30-3pm
Guest Speaker: Svjetlana Miocinovic, MD, PhD, clinical research fellow,
Movement Disorder and Neuromodulation Center, UCSF, San Francisco
Topics: Current and New Therapies for PD
RSVP?: No.
Millbrae
Thursday, 5/14, 1:30-3pm
Guest Speaker: Jeff Doleman, SLP, speech therapist, Kaiser South San
Francisco
Topic: Speech Therapy for PD
RSVP?: No.
Stockton
Thursday, 5/14, 1:30-3pm
Discussion Topic: Sharing what works with PD
RSVP?: No.
Walnut Creek
Saturday, 5/16, 9am-noon (main program 10am-noon)
Early Program (9-10am): Divide into two groups — Parkinsonians and
caregivers
Main Program: 10-10:40am – refreshments and information. 10:40am-noon –
Divide into three groups — Parkinsonians only, caregivers only, and DBS
RSVP?: No.
Antioch
Saturday, 5/16, 10am-noon
Guest Speaker: Ariane Chapple, fundraising manager, The Parkinson’s
Institute, Sunnyvale
Topic: Update from The Parkinson’s Institute
RSVP?: No.
Sacramento Post-DBS (Deep Brain Stimulation)
Monday, 5/18, 10am-noon
Discussion Topic: Neurosurgical Issues
RSVP?: Yes, required. Please phone Kaiser Sacramento Neuroscience
Reception Desk, 916-973-6860.
Auburn
Tuesday, 5/19, 1:30-3pm
Guest Speaker: Susan Feldman, community relations representative,
BrightStar Care, Roseville
Topic: How Can I Age at Home Safely?
RSVP?: No.
San Jose/The Villages
Tuesday, 5/19, 2-3:30pm
Discussion Topics: Sharing hints and tips that make life easier.
Research being done.
RSVP?: Yes, required if you are not a resident of The Villages. You
must phone group leader Alice Pratte, 408-223-8033, in advance as your
name must be put on a list of those authorized to enter this gated
community.
Sunnyvale DBS
Wednesday, 5/20, 1:30-3:30pm
Guest Speaker: Theresa Najjar, PT, NCS, founder and therapist, Synaptic
Physical Therapy
Topic: Important considerations for a successful PT program for PD
RSVP?: Preferred. Phone group organizer, PPSG, 408-542-5610, in advance.
Modesto
Wednesday, 5/20, 1:30-3:30pm
Guest Speaker: Monica Wood, MD (retired), orthopedic surgeon
Topics: Benefits of continual movement and effects of PD medications
RSVP?: No.
Merced
Thursday, 5/21, 10am-noon
Guest Speaker: Lisa Ferriera, respiratory therapist and owner, Merced
Medical Supply
Topic: Respiratory considerations with PD, including secretion management
RSVP?: No.
Sacramento/Arden Arcade
Thursday, 5/21, 10am-noon
Guest Speaker #1: Sheri Hoffman, trust attorney, Hoffman & Hoffman, Folsom
Guest Speaker #2: Ryan Jantzen, senior financial advisor, Pacific
Investment Consultants, Folsom
RSVP?: No.
Mill Valley (Marin County)
Tuesday, 5/26, 1-3pm (guest speaker from 1-2pm)
Guest Speaker: Jim Hastings, estate planning attorney, JR Hastings Law,
San Rafael
Topic: Estate planning
RSVP?: No.