Many Northern and Central California Parkinson’s Disease (PD) support groups meetings have speakers or discussion programs planned in May 2019.  See the list below of what is happening near you…

There is a new group happening in Palo Alto. The Menlo Park group has moved back to Avenidas senior center in Palo Alto, with a slightly changed start time.   

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?  Generally, it means that there is no speaker at the meeting.  So, it’s an open discussion format. It might mean that the guest speaker info didn’t arrive from the group in time to be added here.  Or, 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.)

Take care,
Robin Riddle
parkinsons.stanford.edu

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

Chico
Wednesday, 5/1, 1:30-3pm
Guest Speaker:  Erin Haley, MT, neurologic music therapist
Topic:  Music and PD
RSVP?:  No.

Soquel (Santa Cruz County)
Wednesday, 5/1, 2-3:30pm
Program:  Getting to know you
RSVP?:  No.

Brentwood
Wednesday, 5/1, 6:30-8pm
Guest Speaker #1:  Moving Day representative
Topic #1:  Moving Day
Guest Speaker #2:  Tamsen Meierdierck, senior living consultant
Topic #2:  Senior living options
RSVP?:  No.

San Jose/Willow Glen
Friday, 5/3, 10am-noon  (program begins about 10:15am)
Guest Speakers:  Elena Call, MD, movement disorder specialist, and Lindsey Soli, DPT, physical therapist, Kaiser
Topic:  Resources at Kaiser for those with Parkinson’s
RSVP?:  No.

Visalia
Friday, 5/3, 10:30am-noon
Guest Speakers:  Salima Brillman, MD, movement disorder specialist, private practice, Menlo Park (speaking on behalf of Adamas Pharmaceuticals), and Betty Yan, Adamas Pharmaceutical
Topic:  PD dyskinesia treatment
RSVP?:  No.

Half Moon Bay
Friday, 5/3, 1-2pm
Guest Speaker:  Kendra Stelzer, Boston Scientific
Topic:  Deep brain stimulation (DBS)
RSVP?:  No.

Santa Rosa (Sonoma County)
Saturday, 5/4, 1-3:15pm  (guest speakers 1-2pm)
Guest Speakers:  Janice Sternfield, attorney, and Brian Griffin, social worker
Topic:  Advance healthcare directive
RSVP?:  No.

Lodi
Monday, 5/6, 10am-noon
Guest Speaker:  Sal Avila, Acadia Pharmaceuticals
Topic:  Nuplazid
RSVP?:  No.

San Andreas (Calaveras, Amador, and Tuolumne Counties)
Tuesday, 5/7, 10am-noon
Discussion Topic:  Parkinson’s medications.  Bring a list of medications along with dosage, cost, and where purchased.
RSVP?:  No.

Roseville
Tuesday, 5/7, 1:30-3pm
Guest Speaker #1:  Seniors First representative
Guest Speaker #2:  Placer Independent Resource Service representative
Topic #2:  Assessment and repairing safety issues in homes
RSVP?:  No.

Placerville
Tuesday, 5/7, 1:30-3pm
Program:  Watch webinar on non-motor symptoms of PD by Davis Phinney Foundation
RSVP?:  No.

San Francisco Young Onset PD/UCSF
Tuesday, 5/7, 6:30-8pm
Guest Speaker:  Ethan Brown, MD, UCSF Neurology
Topic:  Gut microbiome and PD
RSVP?  Yes to Monica Volz, UCSF, 415-353-7382

Palo Alto/Avenidas
Wednesday, 5/8, 2:30-4pm 
Guest Speaker:  Diana Blum, MD, neurologist, Peninsula Private Neurology, Menlo Park
Topics: PD and the gut.  And how to speak with your neurologist and primary care physician about Parkinson’s symptoms.
Note: New location (Avenidas, 450 Bryant, Palo Alto) and new start time (2:30pm)
RSVP?:  No.

Sacramento/Natomas
Thursday, 5/9, 10am-noon
Guest Speaker:  Lori Diaz, Rock Steady Boxing West Sacramento
Topic: Rock Steady Boxing
RSVP?:  No

Sonoma
Thursday, 5/9, 10-11am
Guest Speaker:  Ryan Markey, coach, Rock Steady Boxing Petaluma
Topic:  Benefits of Rock Steady Boxing
RSVP?  No.

Millbrae/Magnolia
Thursday, 5/9, 1:30-3pm
Guests:  Students from Nueva School, San Mateo
Topic:  Designing and creating a product that will benefit society
RSVP?  No.

Stockton
Thursday, 5/9, 1:30-3pm
Guest Speaker #1:  Joseph Amen, director, Oak Park Senior Center
Guest Speaker #2:  Martha Nguyen, mobility and strategic affairs coordinator, San Joaquin Regional Transit District
Topic #2:  New Van-Go service
RSVP?:  No.

Clovis (Greater Fresno)
Saturday, 5/11, 10am-noon
Speakers:  Dr. Pomaville and Sabrina Nii, Speech & Hearing Clinic, CSU Fresno
Topic: Project Voice
RSVP?:  No.

Auburn
Tuesday, 5/14, 11:30am
Speaker:  Representative from Del Oro Caregiver Resource Center
RSVP?:  No

Bakersfield
Tuesday, 5/14, 2-4pm
Guest Speaker:  Tim Kounter, Bakersfield
Topic:  Placement services
RSVP?:  No

Pacific Grove (Monterey County)
Tuesday, 5/14, 3-4:30pm
Program:  Discussion groups — those with PD and caregivers
RSVP?:  No. 

Palo Alto Young Onset PD/Stanford
Tuesday, 5/14, 6:30-8pm
Guest Speaker:  Jayah Faye Paley, CPT, PolesForMobility.com
Topic:  Pole walking for exercise, balance, mobility, and maintaining independence
RSVP?:  Yes, so that the correct number of walking poles can be provided at the meeting.  And yes, if you are a first-time attendee.  RSVP to group leader John Mamin at least 24 hours before the meeting

Merced
Wednesday, 5/15, 10am-noon
Guest Speaker:  Tara Wilson, community outreach director, JC Fremont Hospital
Topic: Chronic disease and self-management
RSVP?: No.
Note: New meeting day

Modesto
Wednesday, 5/15, 1:30-3:30p
Guest Speaker:  Lori Dodd, PT, physical therapist, private practice
RSVP?:  No.

Walnut Creek (Mt. Diablo)
Saturday, 5/18, 10am-noon  (speaker begins at 10:45am)
Guest Speaker:  Brianna Munson, DPT, physical therapist
Topic:  Physical therapy and exercise for PD
RSVP?:  No. Napa Young Onset PD (YOPD)
Sunday, 5/19, 3-5pm 
Program:  Rock Steady Boxing anniversary party and demonstration
RSVP?:  No.
Note:  Different meeting day in May 2019 only.  Bring a side dish or dessert to share.

Sacramento Post-DBS (Deep Brain Stimulation)/Kaiser
Monday, 5/20, 10am-noon
Topic:  Mobility – getting around safely and smoothly, RSB, and LSVT
RSVP?:  Yes, required.  Call Kaiser Neuroscience, 916-973-6860.
Note:  Meeting is in location #2.  (See Stanford Parkinson’s website for info.)

Union City
Tuesday, 5/21, 2:45-4pm
Guest Speaker:  Erin Crawford, NP, nurse practitioner, Kaiser San Leandro
Topic: Comparison of latest DBS (deep brain stimulation) technologies.
Note:  New meeting day –third Tuesday, not second Tuesday, as of April 2019.
RSVP?:  No.

Mill Valley (Marin County)
Friday, 5/24, 1-3pm (guest speaker is from 1-2pm)
Guest Speaker:  Aaron Daley, research coordinator, UCSF Parkinson’s Disease Clinical and Research Center
RSVP?:  No.