APDA Parkinson Support Network of Cape Cod Branch

The Parkinson Support Network of Cape Cod (PSN), a Branch of the APDA MA Chapter, was founded in 2009 by Joyce Ginouves after her husband Paul was diagnosed with Parkinson’s. She recognized the need for additional services for the over one thousand families living with Parkinson’s on Cape Cod. Over the years, she has assembled an alliance of consumers, health and human service providers, and organizations committed to supporting people living with Parkinson’s disease and their families/care partners on Cape Cod. Since its beginnings, the PSN/APDA has coordinated educational seminars, support services, and specialized exercise and wellness programs. The Cape Cod PSN became a Branch of the American Parkinson Disease Association Massachusetts Chapter in 2015.

For more information about any of our programs and services, please call the American Parkinson Disease Association Information and Referral Center at 800-651-8466.

 

 

 

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Updates for the PD Community

As a precaution and in light of recent recommendations regarding the coronavirus (COVID-19), a number of scheduled events and meetings have been cancelled or postponed. Please be sure to reach out to the program contact if you are unsure about whether or not a meeting has been cancelled.

For more information on COVID-19 and the PD Community, click here. You can also feel free to reach out to the APDA Information and Referral Center at 800-651-8466 with any questions.

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Upcoming Cape Events

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APDA PRESS Program
Saturdays, September 11 – October 30, 2021
**Registration is now closed for this group**

APDA PRESS (Parkinson’s Roadmap for Support Services) is a program developed by the Information and Referral Center and designed for individuals diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease five or fewer years before the beginning of the program. This 8-week support group is led by Sarah Singer, LICSW and provides information and support for participants.

Click here to see a flyer

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Dr. Gilbert Hosts
Next Session- How to Outsmart Parkinson’s Disease: Tips and Tricks from an Occupational Therapist
Wednesday, October 20, 2021

Dr. Rebecca Gilbert hosts these informative Q&A sessions with a series of experts via Zoom. Topics include an intro to telemedicine, medication management & COVID-19, and more. In the next session Dr. Erin Foster, an Occupational Therapist with expertise in Parkinson’s disease, will suggest helpful ways to organize your surroundings and improve your daily routines, so you can function at your best.

Click here to register

Click here to see previous sessions

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APDA Let’s Keep Moving Fitness Series: Your PD Exercise Toolkit 3-Part Series
Part One: PD Exercise Fundamentals
Thursday, October 28, 2021

This series will be presented by physical therapists at the APDA’s National Rehabilitation Resource Center for Parkinson’s Disease at Boston University’s Sargant College who have expertise in working with the PD community. You only need to register once for the series, and we’ll send you reminders and links to watch each episode as it approaches. (And if you have to miss an episode, don’t worry, we’ll send you the recording.)

Part One: PD Exercise Fundamentals
Learn the key elements of an exercise program whether you’re exercising at home, in the gym, or on the go! Get your questions answered live during the program!
Presented by Tim Nordahl, PT, DPT, APDA National Rehabilitation Resource Center for Parkinson’s Disease, Boston University. Moderated by Teresa Baker, PT, DPT, APDA National Rehabilitation Resource Center for Parkinson’s Disease.

Click Here to Register

See previously recorded sessions

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APDA MA Virtual Education Series: Bringing Information to You at Home
Next Session: The Role of Research in Parkinson’s
Tuesday, November 2, 2021

Join the American Parkinson Disease Association MA for the virtual educational program  “The Role of Research in Parkinson’s.” This program will be presented by Terry Ellis, PhD, PT, Director, Center for Neurorehabilitation Boston University College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences: Sargent College; and Marie Saint-Hilaire, MD, FRCPC, Director, APDA Center for Advanced Research at Boston University Medical Campus. Dr. Ellis and Dr. Saint-Hilaire will discuss how research can benefit a person with Parkinson’s, and vice versa.

Click here to register

Click here to see previous sessions

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Educational Programming

Each year, the PSN/APDA Branch provides educational programming specifically for the Cape Parkinson’s community. These programs are designed to educate people with Parkinson’s, care partners, and interested community members about varying topics related to Parkinson’s. Past programming has included panels on wellness programming, seminars on non-motor symptoms of Parkinson’s, support for care partners, and more. The Program Committee for the Parkinson Support Network/APDA Board determines annual programming at the beginning of each year. Click below to see the full schedule for the current year.

 

 

Psychosocial Support

Support groups are critical to people whose lives are affected by Parkinson’s disease, providing a forum to come together to seek information, voice concerns, and share experiences. The meetings provide an opportunity to express feelings and discussion common issues and what solutions others have discovered. Meeting with others who understand the unique needs of individuals with PD and family members can lessen feelings of isolation and validate one’s experience—you are not alone!

 

Arts and Movement Programs on the Cape

Cape Cod is home to many programs specifically designed for the person with Parkinson’s and his or her family members. Being active improves and maintains strength, flexibility, mobility, and coordination. Several different modalities are currently offered throughout the country and researchers are actively studying the effects of structured exercise programs on functionality and quality of life indicators. As a service to the community and with permission of the sponsoring individual or agency, the PSN/ APDA Branch provides an updated list arts and movement programs. Click on the links below for more information on each program. Specific information on whether you or a loved one can safely participate should be obtained by your health care provider in collaboration with the sponsoring agency.

2021 Update: As a precaution regarding the coronavirus (COVID-19), some scheduled programs are still postponed. Please be sure to reach out to the program contact if you are unsure about whether or not a meeting will happen.

For more information on COVID-19 and the PD Community, click here. You can also feel free to reach out to the APDA Information and Referral Center at 800-651-8466 with any questions.

 

Community Wellness Programs, Speech Therapy, & Physical Therapy

Community Wellness Physical Therapy Programs for individuals with Parkinson’s disease are now offered in several Cape communities.

The Wellness Program is designed to help individuals with Parkinson’s disease living in the community learn to manage their health more effectively in order to improve day-to-day functioning and quality of life. Under the guidance of licensed physical, occupational, and speech therapists, participants will learn exercises and a problem solving approaches to managing daily mobility, self-care, and communication issues which often interfere with function and quality of life.

These programs have been developed from a model established at Boston University Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences. Healthcare professionals from interested agencies collaborate and receive intensive training by staff from Boston University’s Sargent College and the BU Department of Neurology. These initiatives are supported in part by the American Parkinson Disease Association.

LSVT BIG® and LSVT LOUD® are intensive therapy programs administered to an individual with Parkinson’s by a rehabilitation specialist ( PT, OT, Speech). To learn more about these programs, visit http://www.lsvtglobal.com/.

 

 

Learn More About the Parkinson Support Network/APDA Leadership