Join the Parkinson's Foundation in person for the Kentucky Parkinson's Symposium. Hear about ongoing research, current treatments, and resources available to help you live your best life with Parkinson's.
There is no charge to attend, but registration is required. This program is open to people with Parkinson's, their family, friends and the community.
Expert Speakers:
Zain Guduru, MD
Kentucky Neuroscience Institute
Laura Gusé, MPT
LSVT BIG
Ann Hanley
Parkinson’s Research Fund
Maria Hoctor, SLP
Encompass Health Cardinal Hill
Craig G. van Horne, MD, PhD
Kentucky Neuroscience Institute
Kara Lee, PT, DPT, NCS
University of Kentucky College of Health Sciences
Forrest Sturgill, MD
Kentucky Neuroscience Institute
Tritia R. Yamasaki, MD, PhD
Kentucky Neuroscience Institute
Panel Moderators:
Michael Nsoesie
University of Kentucky College of Medicine
George Quintero, PhD
University of Kentucky Neurorestoration Center
COVID SAFETY: The health and safety of our participants, sponsors, volunteers and staff are our top priority. We continue to monitor CDC recommendations and will adhere to state and local COVID guidelines in place on the event day. Adjustments will be made if necessary.
Parkinson’s disease is a chronic and progressive disease that affects both the person with Parkinson’s and the care partner. Considerations need to be made to deal with the present challenges, while also anticipating future caregiving needs. Patsy Ponder Dalton was the caregiver for her husband, David, since he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s at the age of 44. Even after David’s passing, she is still a highly engaged facilitator for two Parkinson’s support groups in Missouri.
In this episode, she provides insight into dealing with the challenges of the disease as it progressed, along with the changes in her caregiving responsibilities. She discusses the dynamic of her and David’s shared decision making over time, provides suggestions for mitigating the physical challenges of the disease by adapting her home environment, and as a care partner, how Patsy needed to make time for her own well-being. Even though David is gone, she still finds comfort and motivation in being part of the Parkinson’s community and maintaining her role in support groups.
Released: November 14, 2023
Patsy Ponder Dalton has led Parkinson's Support Groups for the past 17 years in both Columbia and Lake Ozark, Missouri. For more information on the groups, visit their website here.
Patsy's husband, David, died last year after 28 years of Parkinson's. The Daltons worked as a team for all those years. Patsy can be reached at daltonsinc@aol.com.
Expert Briefing: Hallucinations and Delusions in Parkinson's
November 8, 2023
Psychosis can be a frightening word. In Parkinson’s disease, the medical definition of psychosis usually starts with mild symptoms that can have a big impact on quality of life. Psychosis can vary from severe confusion to seeing things that aren’t there, to believing things that are not true. Find out what causes these symptoms, how people with Parkinson’s might experience them and management strategies.
Join us for a fun, holiday-themed class that provides a comprehensive workout, including strength, balance, coordination, and aerobic exercises. Based on the zany holiday tradition of Festivus, we will perform feats of strength, air grievances about hard to do (but worthwhile!) aerobic exercises, work on balance with our Festivus poles, and finish off with miraculous coordination exercises.
This one-of-a-kind class integrates evidence-based exercises in an upbeat and engaging format. The only equipment required is a pole - could be a cane, tall umbrella, or broom. Seated and standing options will be offered.
Instructors
Dr. Madeleine E. Hackney, PhD
Associate Professor in the Emory School of Medicine
Research Scientist with the Center for Visual and Neurocognitive Rehabilitation at the Atlanta VA
Co-founder of MDT Education Solutions
Dr. Tricia H. Creel, PT, DPT, NCS, Physical Therapist
Co-founder of MDT Education Solutions
There is no charge to attend, but registration is required. This program is open to people with Parkinson's, their family, friends, and the community.
Please join us on Saturday, November 11, 2023 for the Give Parkinson's the Boot fundraising event at the Booth Western Art Museum (Booth). This very special event will be held in honor of Seth Hopkins, the Executive Director of the Booth and Parkinson’s battler.
Guests will enjoy a fun evening of great food and musical entertainment, including performances by singer-song writer, Tony Arata, best known for his song “The Dance,” a number-one U.S. country hit for Garth Brooks. This will be a celebratory evening with all funds raised ahead of the event to support the incredible work of the Parkinson's Foundation and the Booth Western Art Museum.
Caregiving Tips: Helping a Loved One in the Later Stages of Parkinson’s
Navigating Parkinson’s disease (PD) can come with many surprises for the person living with the disease and those who love them. Since Parkinson’s progresses, symptoms often begin to complicate daily activities as a person progresses through the stages of PD.
Learning how to manage Parkinson’s is a constantly evolving learning curve that should always be modified to best suit both the needs of the person with Parkinson’s and the care partner. In this article, we highlight tips that can help your loved one adjust to these changes.
Daily Living
Moving
Movement changes are common in Parkinson’s and can become more difficult to manage in later PD stages. As a care partner, you can help your loved one move safely.
Check that your loved one’s feet are placed firmly underneath before standing. You may need to help with proper foot placement.
Remind your loved one to take big steps. People with PD often need “cues” to take long steps as automatic motions become more difficult to perform. Keep cues short and simple, for example by saying, “Big steps.”
Find an occupational therapist. These rehabilitative experts can help your loved one maintain independence and ways care partners can assist.
Freezing and Falls
People with Parkinson’s sometimes experience freezing episodes, which is the temporary and involuntary inability to move. Freezing is a significant cause of falls, as it creates a feeling like your feet are glued to the floor.
Avoid tight turns when possible. Instruct your loved one to make wider turns as freezing often happens while turning around in close quarters.
Make a plan. Consider how you’ll access help in the event of a fall, such as calling a neighbor or friend.
Travel and Transportation
Leaving the home can be difficult, but outings to a doctor’s office or physical therapist are often necessary. Consider methods that promote safety and decrease care partner stress.
Plan appointments around your loved one’s daily routine. Try to schedule appointments while the person with Parkinson’s is rested and PD medications are working well.
Maximize your time. If endurance allows, schedule a few appointments on the same day, especially if they are in the same clinic or medical complex.
Advanced Parkinson’s can cause difficulty with eating and drinking because of movement and swallowing problems. Making adjustments to mealtimes can help your loved one get the nutrition they need.
Serve foods that are easy to eat. Avoid tough, dry, or crumbly textures that might be difficult to swallow.
Focus on hydration. To ensure your loved one is drinking enough fluids, encourage sips of liquid between solid foods.
Caring for the Care Partner
Parkinson’s symptoms change over time, as will your role as a care partner. The most important thing to remember is that if you do not take care of yourself, you will not be able to take care of your loved one.
Caregiver burnout is a state of physical, emotional and mental exhaustion. Burnout can occur when caregivers don't get the help they need, or if they try to do more than they are able, physically or financially. Caregiver burnout symptoms can include:
Extreme fatigue unrelated to sleep
Unusual frustration and anger
Feeling “cloudy” or “foggy.” Often dismissed as age-related change, this can occur as a result of carrying too much responsibility and/or anxiety
These tips can help you navigate your own wellbeing as a care partner:
Manage stress. Identify what triggers your stress and find ways to control your emotions, like writing in a journal or going for a walk.
Accept help. Make a short list of specific tasks that typically help you care for your loved one, so family and friends know what they can do to help when you need a break.
When thinking changes are mild, these symptoms often do not impact everyday life. But as Parkinson’s advances, more profound changes in thinking can occur, including dementia. Dementia is when someone experiences problems with memory and thinking that are advanced and interfere with daily activities and quality of life.
To improve communication, try these strategies:
Ask one question at a time. Slowing down and asking one thing at a time can be helpful.
Give hints and cues. Use short and simple phrases to provide cues. Give a short hint if your loved one has difficulty finding a word or loses their train of thought.
Resist the urge to argue or correct. If your loved one is experiencing a delusion, try to find ways around the situation instead of contradicting them. It can be helpful to keep in mind ‘it is the disease making these accusations, not my loved one.’
Look for community resources BEFORE you need them. Explore resources in your community, such as the Area Agency on Aging.
The Parkinson’s Foundation is here for care partners. Explore all stages of the care partner journey and essential information and resources designed to help along the way.
In this special Wellness Wednesday, the Parkinson's Foundation will reveal our newest resource, a new and improved Hospital Safety Guide. During the program, we will review "My Five Parkinson's Care Needs," the resources built into the guide, and hear from community volunteers with both personal and professional experience navigating hospital visits.
Speakers
Richard Huckabee, Person with Parkinson's
Great Lakes Chapter
John Cox, Person with Parkinson's, retired paramedic firefighter
New York and New Jersey Chapter
Kelly Tran, Pharmacist
South Central Chapter
Heather Lester, Acute care physical therapist
Gulf Coast Chapter
Mary Ochoa, Inpatient speech-language pathologist, daughter of a person with Parkinson's
Heartland Chapter
There is no charge to attend, but registration is required.
Parkinson’s Revolution will take place across the country on February 22, 2025. Join us in-person at your studio location or virtually for a high energy ride that generates funds and awareness for Parkinson’s disease (PD).
Come ride for a reason and then celebrate the power of movement at our post-ride happy hour the Sweat Social! Friends, family, and members of the PD community are welcome to enjoy a short program and light refreshments immediately following the ride.
Parkinson’s Revolution will take place across the country on February 22, 2025. Join us in-person at your studio location or virtually for a high energy ride that generates funds and awareness for Parkinson’s disease (PD).
Come ride for a reason and then celebrate the power of movement at our post-ride happy hour the Sweat Social! Friends, family, and members of the PD community are welcome to enjoy a short program and light refreshments immediately following the ride.
Parkinson’s Revolution will take place across the country on February 24, 2024. Join us in-person at your studio location or virtually for a high energy ride that generates funds and awareness for Parkinson’s disease (PD)
Come ride for a reason and then celebrate the power of movement at our post-ride happy hour the Sweat Social! Friends, family, and members of the PD community are welcome to enjoy a short program and light refreshments immediately following the ride.
