It seems that nearly every Northern and Central California Parkinson’s Disease (PD) support group has a guest speaker or program planned for May 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 May,
Robin Riddle
parkinsons.stanford.edu

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San Andreas (Calaveras County)
Tuesday, 5/1, 10am-noon (program 10:30am-noon)
Program:  Break into two discussion groups — those with PD and caregivers
RSVP?:  No.

Placerville (El Dorado County)
Tuesday, 5/1, 1:30-3pm
Program:  Parts of recordings of two lectures on PD and cannabis. Guest speaker for the Parkinson’s Foundation webinar is Benzi Kluger, MD.  Guest speaker at the Northwest Parkinson’s Foundation conference is Jade Stefano, naturopathic physician.
RSVP?:  No.

Roseville
Tuesday, 5/1, 1:30-3pm
Guest Speaker:  Eileen Bruggeman, Roseville Transit
Topic:  Mobility training for seniors
RSVP?:  No.

Soquel (Santa Cruz County) – new location as of May
Wednesday, 5/2, 2-3:30pm – new time as of May
Guest Speaker:  David Zimmerman, family therapist
RSVP?:  No.

Chico
Wednesday, 5/2, 1:30-3pm
Guest Speaker:  Salvador Avila, sales, Acadia Pharmaceuticals
Topic:  Non-motor symptoms of PD, with an emphasis on hallucinations and delusions
RSVP?:  No.

Brentwood
Wednesday, 5/2, 6:30-8pm
Guest Speaker:  David Klitzke, group member
Topic:  Research report on sleep disturbances in PD
RSVP?:  No.

San Jose/Willow Glen
Friday, 5/4, 10am-noon
Program:  Break into two discussion groups — those with PD and caregivers
RSVP?:  No.

Visalia
Friday, 5/4, 10:30am-noon
Program:  “Managing Parkinson’s – Straight Talk and Honest Hope,” video by the Washington Chapter of the American Parkinson Disease Association
RSVP?:  No.

Half Moon Bay
Friday, 5/4, 1-2pm
Guest Speaker:  Ellen Roumasset, PhD, psychologist
Topic:  Coping with emotional challenges of PD
RSVP?:  No.

Santa Rosa (Sonoma County)
Saturday, 5/5, 1-3:15pm (guest speaker 1-2pm)
Guest Speaker:  Lisa Oei, DPT, Marin County PD-Connect
Topic:  Exercise options, including PWR (Parkinson’s Wellness Recovery) and Delay the Disease
RSVP?:  No.

Lodi
Monday, 5/7, 10am-noon
Guest Speaker:  Sherri Adams, deputy district attorney, San Joaquin County
Topic:  Elder law and avoiding fraud
RSVP?:  No.

El Dorado Hills
Tuesday, 5/8, noon-2pm
Guest Speaker:  Quinn Monsma, Medtronic
Topic:  Deep brain stimulation (DBS)
RSVP?:  No.

Bakersfield (Kern County)
Tuesday, 5/8, 2-4pm
Guest Speaker:  Jeri Yvonne Williams, MD, movement disorder specialist, Bakersfield
Topic:  New medications and treatment for PD
RSVP?:  No.

Union City/Mark Green Sports Center
Tuesday, 5/8, 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, 5/8, 3-4:30pm
Guest Speakers:  Marilyn Uwate and Leslie Pinkerton, CHOMP
Topic:  Nutrition and PD – an update
RSVP?:  No.

Palo Alto YOPD (Young Onset PD)
Tuesday, 5/8, 6:30-8pm
Guest Speaker:  Anne Laporte, disability attorney
Topic:  Disability issues
RSVP?:  Yes, if this is your first time.  Email Martha Gardner at least 24 hours in advance.

Turlock
Wednesday, 5/9, 1-2pm
Guest Speaker:  Dan Padretti, medical equipment manager, Boies Pharmacy, Turlock
Topic:  Latest and best equipment for fall prevention
RSVP?:  No.

Menlo Park/Little House
Wednesday, 5/9, 2-3:30pm
Guest Speaker:  Diana Blum, MD, neurologist, Peninsula Private Neurology, Menlo Park
Topic:  The gut and nutrition in PD
RSVP?:  No.

Sonoma
Thursday, 5/10, 10-11am
Guest Speaker:  Bianca Molle, qigong instructor
Topic:  Using sound healing as a Chakra meditation
RSVP?:  No.

Stockton
Thursday, 5/10, 1:30-3pm
Guest Speakers:  Carl Fairburn, DPT, and Derek Isetti, PhD, University of the Pacific, Stockton
Topic:  Challenges of PD
RSVP?:  No.

San Francisco DBS (Deep Brain Stimulation)
Thursday, 5/10, 6-8pm
Program:  Video on the impact of nutrition on PD
RSVP?:  Yes, preferred, to Monica Volz

Redding – Annual Parkinson’s Conference
Friday, 5/11, 8am to 4pm
See agenda and register online at panctoday.com/Events
Free but pre-registration required
Registration closes on Friday 5/4
Information?  Email Kim

Clovis (Greater Fresno)
Saturday, 5/12, 10am-noon
Guest Speaker:  Krishe Menezes, MD, movement disorder specialist, UCSF Fresno
RSVP?:  No.

Yuba City (Tri-Counties)
Monday, 5/14, 1-2pm
Guest Speaker:  Quinn Monsma, Medtronic
Topic:  Deep brain stimulation (DBS) and other surgical options for PD
RSVP?:  No.

Lakeport (Lake County)
Monday, 5/14, 2-3:30pm
Program:  Slides from recent PD webinars
RSVP?:  No.

Lincoln
Tuesday, 5/15, 10-11am
Guest Speaker:  Beverly Chang, MD, geriatric psychiatrist
RSVP?:  No.

Merced
Thursday, 5/17, 10am-noon
Guest Speaker:  Carol Hart, Dance for PD instructor, Merced Academy of Dance
Topic:  Dance therapy for PD
RSVP?:  No.

Davis
Thursday, 5/17, 1:30-3pm
Guest Speaker:  Stacey Ewing, DPT, physical therapist, Sutter Davis
Topic:  New boxing program for PD
RSVP?:  No.

Walnut Creek (Mt. Diablo)
Saturday, 5/19, 9am-noon  (speaker 10:45am-11:45am)
Guest Speaker:  Cameron Dietiker, MD, movement disorder specialist, UCSF
Topic:  Therapies in Parkinson’s
RSVP?:  No.

Sacramento/Kaiser Post-DBS (Deep Brain Stimulation)
Monday, 5/21, 10am-noon
Discussion topic:  Caregiver fatigue and emotional wellness
RSVP?:  Yes, required.  Call Kaiser at 916-973-6860.

Mill Valley (Marin County)
Friday, 5/25, 1-3pm  (speaker is from 1-2pm)
Guest Speaker:  Laura Sheehan, DC, Sheehan Chiropractic, San Francisco and Marin
RSVP?:  No.