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 Let’s Keep Moving Fitness Series

The APDA National Rehabilitation Resource Center for Parkinson’s Disease at Boston University hosts Let’s Keep Moving seminars featuring tips on many different aspects of staying fit while at home.

See previously recorded sessions

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APDA Dr. Gilbert Hosts Q&A Series
Next Session: Parkinson’s Disease & The Environment with Dr. Carlie Tanner
Wednesday, June 16, 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. Join us for the next episode of Dr. Gilbert Hosts when we speak with Dr. Carlie Tanner who will share her expertise on the effects of the environment on the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease.

Click here to register

Click here to see previous sessions

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APDA PRESS Program
Saturdays, May 1 – June 26, 2021
*This Program is Currently Full*

This 8-week program, APDA Parkinson Roadmap for Education and Support Services™ (PRESS), provides an opportunity for people with Parkinson’s Disease (PD) and one partner or other family member to meet with others facing a similar experience and share coping strategies regarding day-to-day issues related to living with Parkinson’s. The group is open to any adult who has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease within the last 5 years and one partner or other family member.

Click here to see a flyer

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APDA MA Virtual Education Series: Bringing Information to You at Home
Next Session: Driving Wellness for Parkinson’s Disease
Tuesday, July 13, 2021

Parkinson’s disease and Parkinsonism can lead to changes in vision, physical movement, and thinking skills which can impact driving safety over the course of the disease. This presentation will heighten awareness of how to continue to drive safe now, what changes to watch for in the progression of the disease, and how to address those changes in the future.

This program will be presented by Jaclyn Davin, OTR, CDI, CDRS, an Occupational Therapist at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Cape Cod.

Click here to register

Click here to see previous sessions

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APDA MA Virtual Education Series: Bringing Information to You at Home
August Session: Understanding Blood Pressure Fluctuations in Parkinson’s
Tuesday, August 10, 2021

Join the American Parkinson Disease Association MA for the virtual educational program “Understanding Blood Pressure Fluctuations in Parkinson’s.” This program will be presented by Anindita Deb, MD, Movement Disorder Specialist from the University of Massachusetts Memorial Medical Center in Worcester, MA. Dr. Deb will discuss how to manage blood pressure changes in Parkinson’s.

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 and in light of recent recommendations regarding the coronavirus (COVID-19), many scheduled programs 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.

 

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