Parkinson's Support Group Meeting

April is Parkinson Awareness Month.  Our Parkinson’s Support Group, The Parkinson Society, which meets on a monthly basis is putting an extra emphasis to focus on Parkinson Disease in this area and the country.

Remember, you do not have to be alone with PD. We can help. The next meeting of The Parkinson Society will be at 10:00 at the First Presbyterian Church on Hamilton Ave. in Kingsford on Thursday, May 11, 2017.  The program for this meeting will be presented by Kim Zimmerman of Acadia Pharmaceuticals titled “Parkinson Disease Psychosis:  Hallucinations and Delusions”.

Locally for information about the support group or the programs, contact Pauline at 774-0332.

The Parkinson Society has been meeting for two years.  Our attendance has been ranging from 17 or 18 to as many as 35, but we know that there are many more people in our community with Parkinson’s Disease that we have not reached.  The purpose of the group is to provide education, support and fellowship to those affected by this disorder.  We bring in speakers, discuss problems and how to cope, and encourage developing positive attitudes to combat the effects of Parkinson’s Disease (PD).

PD is a chronic, progressive neurological disorder that cannot be cured but can be effectively controlled for many years through medication, rehabilitative therapies, and in some cases, surgery.  The primary symptoms are tremor at rest, slowness of movement, rigidity, and problems with balance.  It affects approximately 2% of the population over 60, or about 30,000 in Michigan.  Five to ten percent of those with Parkinson’s are under the age of 50.  There are no diagnostic tests to determine if you have PD, so it may be difficult to get an accurate diagnosis.

The cause of PD is as yet unknown, numerous research advances have been made in recent years, with the advent of different medications and procedures. Little has been mentioned about Parkinson’s disease and the people in the public eye, such as Michael J. Fox, Janet Reno, and Muhammad Ali have come to the forefront.

Focusing the month of April on Parkinson’s Disease will assist us greatly with our efforts to make the public more aware of this condition and that there are resources for them within their own backyards.  If you have the disease, you do not have to be alone.  We as a support group will help. Research tells us that patients who participate in patient advocacy and support groups experience 40% less apathy than those that don’t participate,  

If you wish to donate to help sponsor support group activities, research or other concerns of this disease, contact Michigan Parkinson Foundation. They will direct your donation as you wish and it will also be tax deductible. To have your donation directly benefit those with PD in this area, designate it to the Dickinson County Area.

The address is Michigan Parkinson Foundation, 30400 Telegraph Rd., Suite 150, Bingham Farms, MI 48025.    Phone: 248-433-9781, Fax: 248-433-1150, Toll free:  1-800-852-9781 and on the web:  www.parkinsonsmi.org