Many Northern and Central California Parkinson’s support groups have guest speakers or programs planned for February 2016. Here’s what’s happening at a support group near you.
Do you need to know the support group 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.
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, that this month’s meeting doesn’t have a guest speaker, or 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! (See the link above for the group leader’s contact info.)
Best wishes in the year of the monkey,
Robin
parkinsons.stanford.edu
**********************
Lodi
Monday, 2/1, 10-11am
Guest Speaker: Salima Brillman, MD, movement disorder specialist, The Parkinson’s Institute, Sunnyvale
Topic: Current and new therapies for PD
RSVP?: No.
San Andreas (Calaveras County)
Tuesday, 2/2, 10am-noon
Guest Speaker: Sandra Graham, assistant technology advocate, Disability Resource Agency for Independent Living (DRAIL), Stockton
Topics: Adaptive technology and research technology on obstacles for people who have PD
Placerville
Tuesday, 2/2, 1:30-3pm
Guest Speaker: Peggy Kline, MFT, therapist, Family Therapy of Los Gatos
Topic: Depression and anxiety in PD and PD caregiving
RSVP?: No.
Roseville
Tuesday, 2/2, 1:30-3pm
Guest Speaker: Bret Garduno, account executive, AbbVie
Topic: Duopa – a new Parkinson’s treatment
RSVP?: No.
San Francisco/Kaiser
Tuesday, 2/2, 4:30-6pm
Guest Speaker: Heather D’Eliso-Gordon, RD, dietitian, Kaiser San Francisco
Topic: Nutrition for Parkinson’s
RSVP?: No.
San Francisco YOPD (Young Onset Parkinson’s Disease)/UCSF
Tuesday, 2/2, 6:30-8pm
Guest Speaker: Jennifer Chen, MD, neurology fellow, UCSF Neurology
Topic: Clinical trial process
RSVP?: Yes, preferred. Email Monica Volz.
Soquel (Santa Cruz County)
Wednesday, 2/3, 1-2:30pm
Guest Speaker: William Hart, MD, sleep disorders specialist, PAMF Sleep Disorders Center, Capitola
Topic: Sleep and PD
RSVP?: No.
Chico
Wednesday, 2/3, 1:30-3pm
Guest Speaker: Amber Vistart, SLP, speech therapist, Enloe Outpatient Therapy Center
Topics: Swallowing and voice problems common in PD
RSVP?: No.
Orangevale
Thursday, 2/4, 10-11:15am
Guest Speaker: Marsha Killian, Yoga for Living, Lachlan
Topic: Yoga for PD
RSVP?: No.
San Lorenzo (San Leandro)
Thursday, 2/4, 10-11:30am
Guest Speaker: Cynthia Eaton, health educator
Topic: Gentle exercising for aging people
RSVP?: No.
Half Moon Bay (new group)
Thursday, 2/4, 1-2pm
Guest Speaker: Freddy Silva, Rock Steady Boxing Peninsula
Topic: Boxing for PD
RSVP?: No.
Yuba City (Tri County)
Thursday, 2/4, 1-2pm
(Note day change for Feb. meeting only)
Guest Speaker: Jessica Laney, Yuba City Senior Center representative
Topics: Services and activities at the senior center
RSVP?: No.
San Jose/Willow Glen
Friday, 2/5, 10am-noon (speaker starts about 10:15am)
Guest Speaker: Fahd Kahn, MD, neurosurgeon, California Neurological Institute, San Jose
Topics: Making DBS (deep brain stimulation) surgery safer and easier for PD patients
RSVP?: No.
Visalia (Central Valley)
Friday, 2/5, 10:30am-noon
Program: “Fall Prevention” video from Parkinson’s Foundation of the Heartland
RSVP?: No.
Santa Rosa (Sonoma County)
Saturday, 2/6, 1-3:15pm (speaker from 1-2pm)
Guest Speaker #1: John Forsayeth, PhD, UCSF Neurosurgery
Topic #1: Why we get PD
Program #2 (in PD breakout group, 2:15-3:15pm): Rock Steady Boxing demo
RSVP?: No.
Auburn Caregivers
Tuesday, 2/9, noon-1pm
(Note new location at Awful Annie’s)
Guest Speaker: Ashley Morse, Del Oro Caregiver Resource Center
Topic: Caregiving Optimism — stress signals and using optimism in every day caregiving
RSVP?: No.
Bakersfield (Kern County)
Tuesday, 2/9, 2-4pm
Guest Speaker: Kathy Pistoresi, personal trainer
Topic: Getting Moving
RSVP?: No.
Pacific Grove (Monterey County)
Tuesday, 2/9, 3-4:30pm
Guest Speaker: Andrea Borgman-Quist, Monterey Pilates Project
Topic: Pilates for PD
RSVP?: No.
Palo Alto/YOPD (Young Onset Parkinson’s Disease)
Tuesday, 2/9, 6:30-8pm
(Location for Feb. meeting only: Neuroscience Building, Wellness Center – Room 1511, main floor, 213 Quarry Road, Palo Alto)
Guests: Victoria Tanoury, CNRN, and Lauren Stroshane, RN, Stanford Movement Disorders Center
Topics: Meds, DBS, and General Q&A
RSVP?: Yes, requested if this is your first time attending meeting. Contact group leader Martha Gardner at least a day before meeting.
Palo Alto/Avenidas
Wednesday, 2/10, 2-3:30pm
Guest Speakers: Laura Sigura, MSW, care manager, and Joan Goldner, business development, Seniors at Home, Palo Alto
Topics: Parkinson’s care options, hiring aides, and geriatric care management
RSVP?: No.
Stockton
Thursday, 2/11, 1:30-3pm
Guest Speaker: Sherrie Adams, deputy district attorney
Topic: Fraud activities currently occurring in Stockton that seniors especially should be aware of
RSVP?: No.
Redding
Friday, 2/12, 1-3:30pm (speaker 1:30-3pm)
Guest Speaker: Bret Garduno, account executive, AbbVie
Topic: Duopa – a new Parkinson’s treatment
RSVP?: No.
Fresno
Saturday, 2/13, 10am-noon
Guest Speaker: Cindy Fuller, PT, physical therapist, BalanceWear
Topic: New stabilizing garment for balance and mobility
RSVP?: No.
Lincoln
Tuesday, 2/16, 10-11am
Guest Speaker: Erin Vestal, PT, physical therapist, Kaiser Roseville
RSVP?: No.
Auburn
Tuesday, 2/16, 1:30-3pm
Guest Speaker: Love Miller, CTAP (California Telephone Access Program) representative
Topic: Telephones for all manners of handicaps
RSVP?: No.
San Jose/Berryessa
Wednesday, 2/17, 1-2:30pm
Guest Speaker: Dedra Jize, Roy Litherland’s law firm representative
Topic: When to seek legal counsel
RSVP?: No.
Sunnyvale DBS (Deep Brain Stimulation)
Wednesday, 2/17, 1:30-3:30pm
Program: “Cognitive Issues – Advice for Parkinson’s Care Partners” video from Parkinson’s Disease Foundation
RSVP?: No.
Sacramento Post-DBS (Deep Brain Stimulation)/Sutter
Wednesday, 2/17, 2:30-3:30pm
Guest Speaker: Renee Garner, SLP, speech therapist, Sutter
Topic: Speech issues
RSVP?: Yes, required. Please phone Linda Ramatowski, NP, Sutter Health, 916-454-6936.
Merced
Thursday, 2/18, 10am-noon
Guest Speaker: Billy Hemphill, SLP, speech therapist, Hy-lond Healthcare Center
Topic: VitalStim
RSVP?: No.
Sonoma/Vintage House
Friday, 2/19, 10-11am
Guest Speaker: Tom Bonlanza, speech therapist
RSVP?: No.
Walnut Creek (Mt. Diablo)
Saturday, 2/20, 9am-noon (main program 10:40am-noon)
Early Program (9-9:50am): 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.
Fremont
Monday, 2/22, 7-9:30pm
Guest Speaker: Fremont Police Department representative
Topic: Senior safety (scams, identity theft, neighborhood crimes, etc)
RSVP?: No.
Mill Valley (Marin County)
Tuesday, 2/23, 1-3pm (guest speaker is 1-2pm)
Guest Speaker: Lynda Sheridan, dance/exercise instructor
Program: Demonstration of John Argue’s PD exercise program
RSVP?: No.