credit: mnd-bbww.org

Lots of Northern and Central California Parkinson’s support groups have guest speakers or programs planned for October 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 a guest speaker or specific program, the group doesn’t have its regular meeting this month, the group has a social event, 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.)

Remember – no falls in the fall,
Robin
parkinsons.stanford.edu
**********************

Santa Rosa (Sonoma County)
Saturday, 10/1, 1-3:15pm  (guest speaker 1-2pm)
Guest Speaker:  Salima Brillman, MD, movement disorder specialist, The Parkinson’s Institute, Sunnyvale
Topic:  Orthostatic hypotension
RSVP?:  No.

Lodi
Tuesday, 10/3, 10-11am
Program:  Discussion of the resources you have used to live better with PD
RSVP?:  No.

San Andreas (Calaveras County)
Tuesday, 10/4, 10am-noon  (program starts about 10:30am)
Guest Speakers:  Evelyn Rapetti, longtime group member, and Gina Fox, information specialist, Area 12 Agency on Aging, Sonora
Topic:  A look at state, federal, and private organization grants available to those with Parkinson’s
RSVP?:  No.

Placerville
Tuesday, 10/4, 1:30-3pm
Program:  Continued discussion on how your life is going – triumphs over PD and disappointments with PD
RSVP?:  No.

Hollister
Tuesday, 10/4, 1:30-3:30pm
Guest Speaker:  Elaine Frey, certified tai chi instructor
Topic:  Tai chi for Parkinson’s
RSVP?:  No.

San Francisco/Kaiser
Tuesday, 10/4, 4:30-6pm
Guest Speaker:  Rima Ash, MD, movement disorder specialist, Kaiser SF
Topic:  Future treatments for PD
RSVP?:  No.

San Francisco Young Onset PD
Tuesday, 10/4, 6:30-8pm
Guest Speaker:  Adreea Seritan, MD, psychiatrist, UCSF Movement Disorder Center
Topic:  Psychiatric issues and PD (part 2)
RSVP?:  Yes, preferred.  Email Monica Volz.

Soquel (Santa Cruz County)
Wednesday, 10/5, 1-2:30pm
Guest Speaker:  Kathleen Poston, MD, movement disorder specialist, Stanford
Topic:  Memory, mind, and other non-motor symptoms in PD
RSVP?:  No.

Chico
Wednesday, 10/5, 1:30-3pm
Guest Speaker:  Representative from Passages
Topic:  Social services for those with Parkinson’s
RSVP?:  No.

San Lorenzo (San Leandro)
Thursday, 10/6, 10-11:30am
Guest Speaker:  Carol Evans, NP, nurse practitioner, Kaiser San Leandro
Topic:  Parkinson’s
RSVP?:  No.

Half Moon Bay
Thursday, 10/6, 3-4pm
Program:  Sharing information on all the recent PD-related talks
RSVP?:  No.

San Jose/Willow Glen
Friday, 10/7, 10am-noon (program starts about 10:20am)
Guest Speaker:  Kathleen Poston, MD, movement disorder specialist, Stanford
Topic:  Motor symptoms of Parkinson’s
RSVP?:  No.

Visalia
Friday, 10/7, 10:30am-noon
Guest Speaker:  David Moos, Assisted Senior Transitions, Visalia
Topic:  Helping you get into assisted and independent living
communities, residential care homes, etc.
RSVP?:  No.

Fresno
Saturday, 10/8, 10am-noon
Guest Speaker:  Maya Katz, MD, movement disorder specialist, UCSF
RSVP?:  No.

Yuba City (Tri-County)
Monday, 10/10, 1-2:30pm
Guest Speaker:  Nancy Kretz, RN, JD, president, PANC Board
Topic:  Relationship of PANC and local PD support groups
RSVP?:  No.

Gilroy
Monday, 10/10, 1-3pm
Guest Speaker:  Steven Russell, Stanford Parkinson’s Community Outreach
Topic:  Parkinson’s Resources in the Bay Area
RSVP?:  No.

Lakeport
Monday, 10/10, 2-3:30pm
Guest Speaker:  Phil Myers, group leader
Topic:  Update from the World Parkinson’s Congress
RSVP?:  No.

Bakersfield
Tuesday, 10/11, 2-4pm
Guest Speaker:  Kathy Pistoresi, fitness trainer, Fresno
Topic:  How people with PD will benefit from yoga – presentation and demonstration
RSVP?:  No.

Pacific Grove (Monterey County)
Tuesday, 10/11, 3-4:30pm
Guest Speaker:  Karen Merchant, RN, UCSF Movement Disorders and Neuromodulation Center
Topic:  Sleep – a piece of the Parkinson’s puzzle
RSVP?:  No.

Palo Alto Young Onset PD
Tuesday, 10/11, 6:30-8pm
Guest Speaker:  Katie Parafinczuk, DPT, physical therapist and PD exercise instructor, Kaiser Redwood City
Topic:  Balance – overview and some exercises (with a chair nearby)
RSVP?:  Preferred, if this is your first time.  RSVP at least 24 hours in advance to Martha Gardner, group leader.

Palo Alto/Avenidas
Wednesday, 10/12, 2-3:30pm
Guest Speaker:  Veronica Santini, MD, movement disorder specialist, Stanford
Topic:  Orthostatic hypotension – overview and treatment
RSVP?:  No.

Millbrae/Magnolia
Thursday, 10/13, 1:30-3pm
Program:  Panel discussion of the benefits of exercise for alleviating the symptoms of PD
RSVP?:  No.

Stockton
Thursday, 10/13, 1:30-3pm
Program:  Discussion of documents needed at the end of life, including the POLST
RSVP?:  No.

Eureka
Friday, 10/14, 3-4pm
Guest Speaker:  Susan Baughman, speech therapist, Northcoast Speech & Language Clinic
RSVP?:  No.

Walnut Creek (Mt. Diablo)
Saturday, 10/15, 9am-noon  (speakers 10-11:15am)
Guest Speaker #1 (10-11am):  Steve Blake, DSc, nutritional biochemist, Hawaii Pacific Neuroscience
Topic #1:  PD – dietary regulation of dopamine production
Guest Speaker #2 (11-11:15am):  Sharon Marts, EdD, author of “My Grandpa Wants to Get a Porcupine”
Topic #2:  Disability awareness for kids and caregiving
RSVP?:  No.

Auburn
Tuesday, 10/18, 1:30-3pm
Guest Speaker:  Christine Shade, PT, physical therapist, Kaiser
Topics:  What’s new internationally in physical therapy for PD
RSVP?:  No.

San Jose/Villages
Tuesday, 10/18, 2-3:30pm
Guest Speaker:  Seiyu Kageyama, LAc, acupuncturist, Chinese Medicine Acupuncture Center
Topic:  Acupuncture to treat pain or mobility problems related to stroke, diabetes, or Parkinson’s
RSVP?:  Yes, required if you are not a resident of The Villages. Call Alice Pratte, group leader, 408-223-8033, at least 24 hours prior to the meeting so that you can be given access to the community.

Modesto
Wednesday, 10/19, 1:30-3:30pm
Guest Speaker:  Salome Garcia, travel trainer and mobility specialist
RSVP?:  No.

Sacramento Post-Deep Brain Stimulation/UC Davis
Wednesday, 10/19, 2:30-4:30pm  (new meeting location)
Guest Speaker:  Katherine Denny, PhD, neuropsychologist, UC Davis
Topic:  Behavioral concerns
RSVP?:  Yes, RSVP to Karla Lindstrom, UC Davis, phone 916-734-6282

Brentwood
Wednesday, 10/19, 6:30-8pm  (new location and new time)
Guest Speaker:  Janna Clayton, RPT, physical therapist, Kaiser Deer Valley
Topic:  Adjusting every day activities and exercise to facilitate brain changes
RSVP?:  Preferred if this is your first time.  Contact Sue Schnittker, group leader.

Merced
Thursday, 10/20, 10am-noon
Guest Speaker:  Jane Vann-Bryan, Merced Academy of Dance
Program:  Demonstration about dance for Parkinson’s class
RSVP?:  No.

Davis
Thursday, 10/20, 1:30-3pm
Guest Speaker:  Linda Larsen, RN, UC Davis, certified yoga instructor, and brother with PD
Program:  Leading group in yoga-based mind-body experience
RSVP?:  No.

Napa Young Onset PD
Sunday, 10/23, 3-5pm (speaker 4-5pm)
Guest Speaker:  Maya Katz, MD, movement disorder specialist, UCSF Movement Disorder and Neuromodulation Center
Topic:  Neuroprotective strategies for those with PD
RSVP?:  No.

Fremont
Monday, 10/24, 7-9:30pm
Guest Speaker:  Damara Vita Ganley, dance instructor
Topic:  Dance for PD
RSVP?:  No.

Mill Valley (Marin County)
Tuesday, 10/25, 1-3pm (speaker 1-2pm)
Guest Speaker:  Torri Campbell, Parkinson’s Dance Project/Marin
Topic:  PD dance