Seems like nearly every Northern and Central California Parkinson’s Disease (PD) support groups has a guest speaker or program planned for March 2018.  Here’s what is 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 this list for the group leader’s contact info.)

Dance for rain in March,
Robin

Happy March,
Robin Riddle
parkinsons.stanford.edu

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San Lorenzo (San Leandro)
Thursday, 3/1, 10-11:30am
Guest Speaker:  Matt Arnold, MD, movement disorder specialist, Sutter East Bay
Topic:  Question and answer session
RSVP?:  No.

San Jose/Willow Glen
Friday, 3/2, 10am-noon
Program:  Break into discussion groups — those with PD and caregivers
RSVP?:  No.

Visalia
Friday, 3/2, 10:30am-noon
Guest Speaker:  Ronald Ziman, MD, movement disorder specialist
RSVP?:  No.

Half Moon Bay
Friday, 3/2, 1-2pm
Guest Speaker:  Sarah Eggen-Thornhill, San Mateo County Fall Prevention Coalition
RSVP?:  No.

Santa Rosa (Sonoma County)
Saturday, 3/3, 1-3:15pm (guest speaker 1-2pm)
Guest Speaker:  Caroline Tanner, MD, movement disorder specialist, UC San Francisco
Topic:  Research updates
RSVP?:  No.

Lodi
Monday, 3/5, 10am-noon
Guest Speaker:  Jerrod Sieberg, senior driver ombudsman, DMV
Topics:  Safety issues for senior drivers and strategies for safe driving
RSVP?:  No.

San Andreas (Calaveras County)
Tuesday, 3/6, 10am-noon (speaker 10:30am-noon
Program:  Break into two discussion groups — those with PD and caregivers
RSVP?:  No.

Placerville (El Dorado County)
Tuesday, 3/6, 1:30-3pm
Program:  Viewing the “Nutrition and PD” webinar from September 2017
RSVP?:  No.

Roseville
Tuesday, 3/6, 1:30-3pm
Guest Speaker:  Traci Pierce, public information officer, California Highway Patrol, Auburn area
Topic:  Age Well – Drive Smart

Soquel (Santa Cruz County)
Wednesday, 3/7, 1-2:30pm
Guest Speakers:  Dr. Tim Znamirowski and Lynn Hawkinson, group members
Topic:  Putting teeth in the subject – Dental health in seniors and people with PD
RSVP?:  No.

Sonoma/Vintage House
Thursday, 3/8, 10-11am
Guest Speaker:  Bruce Boldon, LAc, senior wellness specialist
Topics:  Exploring benefits of tai chi, qi gong, and acupuncture to reduce symptoms of PD
RSVP?:  No.

Stockton
Thursday, 3/8, 1:30-3pm
Guest Speaker #1:  Diane Magallon, MSW, palliative care social worker, Hospice of San Joaquin
Topics #1:  Transitions and palliative care
Guest Speaker #2:  Mary Bullard, Funeral Consumer Alliance
Topic #2:  Local programs
RSVP?:  No.

San Francisco/UCSF Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)
Thursday, 3/8, 6-8pm
Guest Speaker:  Melanie Lising, MD, movement disorder specialist, Stanford
Topic:  Past, present, and future of DBS
RSVP?:  No.

Fresno
Saturday, 3/10, 10am-noon
Program:  Break into three discussion groups — men with PD, women with PD, and caregivers
RSVP?:  No.

Yuba City (Tri-Counties)
Monday, 3/12, 1-2pm
Guest Speaker:  Susan Honda-Takeda, Adamas Pharmaceuticals
Topic:  Gocovri (amantadine, extended release) for dyskinesia
RSVP?:  No.

Lakeport (Lake County)
Monday, 3/12, 2-3:30pm
Guest Speaker:  Gillian Galligan, Acadia Pharmaceuticals
Topic:  Non-motor symptoms of PD
RSVP?:  No.

Union City/Mark Green Sports Center
Tuesday, 3/13, 2:45-4pm
Guest Speaker:  Christine Blabe, clinical research coordinator, Stanford Neurosciences
Topic:  What we can learn about PD by studying you
RSVP?:  No.

Pacific Grove (Monterey County)
Tuesday, 3/13, 3-4:30pm
Program:  Break into discussion groups — PWP and care partner
RSVP?:  No.

Palo Alto/Stanford Children’s Hospital Young Onset Parkinson’s (YOPD)
Tuesday, 3/13, 6:30-8pm
Guest Speaker:  Diviya Kaul, MD, movement disorder fellow, Stanford
Program:  Overview of dance for PD and demonstration class
RSVP?:  Yes, if this is your first time attending.  Please RSVSP to Martha Gardner, group leader, at least one day in advance.