Many Northern and Central California Parkinson’s Disease (PD) support groups have a guest speaker or program planned for April 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.)

Happy spring,
Robin Riddle
parkinsons.stanford.edu

**********************

San Andreas (Calaveras County)
Tuesday, 4/3, 10am-noon (program 10:30am-noon)
Program:  Break into two discussion groups — those with PD and caregivers
RSVP?:  No.

Placerville (El Dorado County)
Tuesday, 4/3, 1:30-3pm
Guest Speaker:  Deon Batchelder, certified care manager, Elder Options, Placerville
Topic:  Making decisions on hiring help, etc.
RSVP?:  No.

Roseville
Tuesday, 4/3, 1:30-3pm
Guest Speaker:  Beverly Chang, MD, geriatric psychiatrist
Topic:  Challenges of aging with PD
RSVP?:  No.

Soquel (Santa Cruz County)
Wednesday, 4/4, 1-2:30pm
Guest Speakers:  Canine Companions for Independence
Topic:  Service dogs
RSVP?:  No.

Chico
Wednesday, 4/4, 1:30-3pm
Guest Speaker:  Oliva Peters-Lazaro, LAc, acupuncturist, Chico Community Acupuncture
Topic:  Acupuncture and PD
RSVP?:  No.

San Jose/Willow Glen
Friday, 4/6, 10am-noon
Guest Speaker:  Steve Blake
Topic:  Nutritional therapy in PD
RSVP?:  No.

Half Moon Bay
Friday, 4/6, 1-2pm
Guest Speaker:  Freddy Silva, RSB Peninsula
Topic:  Rock Steady Boxing for PD
RSVP?:  No.

Santa Rosa (Sonoma County)
Saturday, 4/7, 1-3:15pm (guest speaker 1-2pm)
Guest Speaker:  Marta San Luciano, MD, movement disorder specialist, UC San Francisco
Topic:  Genetics and PD
RSVP?:  No.

Yuba City (Tri-Counties)
Monday, 4/9, 1-2pm
Guest Speaker:  Deborah Christensen-Short, Planning for Seniors
Topic:  How to quality for Medi-Cal to pay for long term care
RSVP?:  No.

Lakeport (Lake County)
Monday, 4/9, 2-3:30pm
Guest Speaker:  Cheryle Dorsey, General Electric
Topic:  DATSCAN
RSVP?:  No.

Bakersfield (Kern County)
Tuesday, 4/10, 2-4pm
Guest Speaker:  Shannon Jaeger, Abbott
Topic:  Infinity deep brain stimulation (DBS) system
RSVP?:  No.

Union City/Mark Green Sports Center
Tuesday, 4/10, 2:45-4pm
Guest Speaker:  Shabbir Latin, HR consultant and fellow Parkinsonian
Topic:  Finding solutions and going beyond PD’s abulia (lack of will)
RSVP?:  No.

Pacific Grove (Monterey County)
Tuesday, 4/10, 3-4:30pm
Guest Speaker:  Jennifer D’Attilio, speech therapist, Central Coast
Language and Learning Center
RSVP?:  No.

Menlo Park/Little House
Wednesday, 4/11, 2-3:30pm
Guest Speaker:  Elke Tekin, certified care manager, AgeRelations
Topics:  Planning ahead with PD – care management, senior living
options, etc.
RSVP?:  No.

Stockton
Thursday, 4/12, 1:30-3pm
Guest Speaker:  Sheldon Vicks, RSB Sacramento
Topic:  Rock Steady Boxing for PD
RSVP?:  No.

Clovis (Greater Fresno)
Saturday, 4/14, 10am-noon
Guest Speaker:  Allan Hedburg, PhD, clinical psychologist, Fresno
Topic:  What does a psychologist have to offer me?
RSVP?:  No.

Berkeley
Saturday, 4/14, 10:30am-12:30pm
Guest Speaker:  Anthony Santiago, MD, chief medical officer, The
Parkinson’s Institute, Sunnyvale
Topic:  Gut-brain connection in PD
RSVP?:  Yes, required.  Email PDActive

Sacramento/UC Davis Post-DBS (Deep Brain Stimulation)
Wednesday, 4/18, 2:30-4:30pm
Discussion topic:  Speech and swallow therapy
RSVP?:  Yes, required.  Email Karla Lindstrom

Merced – Annual Symposium
Thursday, 4/19, 10am-noon
Guest Speaker:  Salima Brillman, MD, movement disorder specialist, private practice, Menlo Park
Topic:  Parkinson’s – more than motor symptoms
RSVP?:  Yes, to Amie’s Senior Care, phone 209-384-3300

Walnut Creek (Mt. Diablo)
Saturday, 4/21, 9am-noon  (speaker 10:45am-11:45am)
Guest Speaker:  Victoria O’Kane, author and teacher, Castro Valley
Topic:  Living joyfully – based on her book “A Journey to Joy: 13 Steps to Self-Esteem”
RSVP?:  No.

Fremont
Monday, 4/23, 7-9:30pm
Guest Speaker (for part of the time):  Ann Boylan
Topics:  Recruiting for Moving Day team, and PD activities at the Mark Green Sports Center, Union City
RSVP?:  No.

Mill Valley (Marin County)
Friday, 4/27, 1-3pm (speaker 1-2pm)
Guest Speaker:  Salima Brillman, MD, movement disorder specialist,
private practice, Menlo Park
Topic:  Parkinson’s – more than motor symptoms
RSVP?:  No.