Many Northern and Central California Parkinson’s support groups have
guest speakers or programs planned for March 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!
Happy Leap Day!
Robin
parkinsons.stanford.edu
**********************
San Andreas (Calaveras County)
Tuesday, 3/1, 10am-noon
Program: Watch “Delay the Disease,” a functional fitness video for PD
RSVP?: No.
Placerville
Tuesday, 3/1, 1:30-3pm
Guest Speaker: Larry Lighty, group member
Topic: 23andMe
RSVP?: No.
Roseville
Tuesday, 3/1, 1:30-3pm
Guest Speaker #1: Kelly Dinwiddie, 24 Hour Nautilus
Topic #1: Silver sneaker program
Guest Speaker #2: Alison Wilson, regional account manager, US WorldMeds
Topic #2: Apokyn – self-injection medication
RSVP?: No.
San Francisco YOPD (Young Onset Parkinson’s Disease)/UCSF
Tuesday, 3/1, 6:30-8pm
Guest Speaker: Andreea Seritan, MD, psychiatrist, UCSF
Topic: Dealing with a PD diagnosis
RSVP?: Yes, preferred. Email Monica Volz, monica.volz@ucsf.edu.
Soquel (Santa Cruz County)
Wednesday, 3/2, 1-2:30pm
Program #1: “Living with Parkinson’s” – group members talking about their PD experiences
Program #2: Break into two groups – PwP and care partners
RSVP?: No.
Chico
Wednesday, 3/2, 1:30-3pm
Guest: Feather River Hospice
RSVP?: No.
San Lorenzo (San Leandro)
Thursday, 3/3, 10-11:30am
Guest Speaker: Alison Wilson, regional account manager, US WorldMeds
Topic: Apokyn – self-injection medication
RSVP?: No.
Half Moon Bay
Thursday, 3/3, 1-2pm
Guest Speaker: Evaldo dal Poggetto, voice coach and retired opera singer
Topic: Voice coaching
RSVP?: No.
San Jose/Willow Glen
Friday, 2/5, 10am-noon (speaker starts about 10:15am)
Guest Speaker: Damara Vita Ganley, PD dance instructor
Topic: Dance for Parkinson’s class at Stanford Balance Center
RSVP?: No.
Visalia (Central Valley)
Friday, 3/4, 9am-2:30pm
Parkinson’s Symposium
Location: Wyndham Hotel, 9000 W. Airport Dr., Visalia
Free. Lunch provided.
RSVP?: Yes, required as space very limited. Register with Colleen Fischer, National Parkinson Foundation, cfischer@parkinson.org, 925-421-6737.
Santa Rosa (Sonoma County)
Saturday, 3/5, 1-3:15pm (speaker from 1-2pm)
Guest Speaker: Nicholas Galifianakis, MD, movement disorder specialist, UCSF/SF VA
Topic: Filling the gaps in PD treatment – non-motor symptoms and neuroprotection
RSVP?: No.
El Dorado Hills
Tuesday, 3/8, noon-2pm
Program: View part of “Parkinson’s Exercise Essentials” DVD (Davis Phinney Foundation)
RSVP?: No.
Bakersfield (Kern County)
Tuesday, 3/8, 2-4pm
Guest Speaker: Jeri Yvonne Williams, MD, movement disorder specialist in private practice, Bakersfield
RSVP?: No.
Pacific Grove (Monterey County)
Tuesday, 3/8, 3-4:30pm
Guest Speaker: Alejandro Centurion, MD, neurologist in private practice, Carmel
Topic: Addressing the needs of people with PD
RSVP?: No.
Palo Alto YOPD (Young Onset Parkinson’s Disease)
Tuesday, 3/8, 6:30-8pm
(Location for March meeting only: Stanford Health Library – Room 201, second floor, 211 Quarry Road, Palo Alto)
Guest Speaker: Carmen Huddleston, librarian, Stanford Health Library
Topic: Screening info sources regarding new and non-mainstream therapies
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, 3/9, 2-3:30pm
Guest Speaker: Salima Brillman, MD, movement disorder specialist, The Parkinson’s Institute and Clinical Center, Sunnyvale
Topics: Latest PD treatments and what’s in the pipeline at The Parkinson’s Institute
RSVP?: No.
Millbrae/Magnolia
Thursday, 3/10, 1:30-3pm
Guest Speaker: Lorna Beccaria, RN, UCSF Movement Disorders and Neuromodulation Center
Topic: Clinical trial involving whether supportive care affects outcomes in PD patients
RSVP?: No.
Stockton
Thursday, 3/10, 1:30-3pm
Program: Share tips, ideas, devices, and tools that might be use to others
RSVP?: No.
San Francisco DBS (Deep Brain Stimulation)/UCSF
Thursday, 3/10, 6-8pm
Guest Speaker: Maya Katz, MD, movement disorder specialist, UCSF
Topic: Supportive care study
RSVP?: Yes, preferred. Email Monica Volz
Redding
Friday, 3/11, 1-3:30pm (speaker 1:30-3pm)
Guest Speakers: Michelle Widolff, PharmD, medical science liaison, andAmanda Balbuena, account manager, Lundbeck
Topic: Northera and overview of orthostatic hypotension
RSVP?: No.
Fresno
Saturday, 3/12, 10am-noon
Guest Speaker: Robert Howk, senior senator for Fresno/Madera counties
Topic: Changing laws that affect PD patients
RSVP?: No.
Yuba City (Tri County)
Monday, 3/14, 1-2pm
Guest Speaker: Debbie Short, Planning for Seniors, Yuba City
Topics: Financial planning for seniors
RSVP?: No.
Lakeport
Monday, 3/14, 2-3:30pm
Guest Speaker: Phil Myers, group member
Topic: Status of PD research as reported at Parkinson’s Action Network Forum
RSVP?: No.
Auburn
Tuesday, 3/15, 1:30-3pm
Guest Speaker: Catherine Nishikawa, RD, nutrition manager, Sutter Faith Auburn Hospital
Topic: Good nutrition for PD patients
RSVP?: No.
San Jose/Villages
Tuesday, 3/15, 2-3:30pm
Guest Speaker: Michelle Thomas, pharmacist
Topics: Over-the-counter medication and prescription medication
RSVP?: Yes, required, if you are not a resident of The Villages. Call group leader Alice Pratte, 408-223-8033, well in advance of meeting as your name must be put on a list of those authorized to enter this gated community.
Modesto
Wednesday, 3/16, 1:30-3:30pm
Guest Speaker: Walt Cooley, Boies Pharmacy, Turlock
Topic: PD medications – old and new
Then break into two groups – caregivers and “Parkies”
RSVP?: No.
Merced
Thursday, 3/17, 10am-noon
Guest Speaker: Bret Garduno, account executive, AbbVie
Topic: Duopa – new treatment for advanced PD
RSVP?: No.
Sacramento/Arden Arcade
Thursday, 3/17, 10am-noon
Guest Speaker: Candice Kodama, hospice care facilities coordinator, Dignity Health
Topics: Hospice and palliative care
RSVP?: No.
Davis
Thursday, 3/17, 1:30-3pm
Program: Discussion topic – value of music for PD; sing-a-long to Irish music
RSVP?: No.
Walnut Creek (Mt. Diablo)
Saturday, 3/19, 9am-noon (guest speakers 10:45am-noon)
Guest Speakers: Rock Steady Boxing coaches
Program: Demonstrate this PD exercise program
RSVP?: No.
Sacramento Post-DBS (Deep Brain Stimulation)/Kaiser
Monday, 3/21, 10am-noon
Discussion Topic: Exercise and DBS technology
RSVP?: Yes, required. RSVP to Kaiser Sacramento Neuroscience Reception Desk, 916-973-6860
Fremont
Monday, 3/28, 7–9:30pm
Guest Speaker: Tammy Duran, Fremont Life Elder Care
Topic: Their four programs, including fall prevention
RSVP?: No.