Support Groups Join our Community About Support Groups How a support group can help you Participating in a support group is a wonderful way to receive practical information and education on living with Parkinson’s disease. More importantly, members receive the support of others who truly understand. All groups welcome new members. Each group is unique. Some have recently formed; others have been meeting for years. Some meet bi-weekly, others monthly. There are groups for individuals who are family caregivers. There are also groups for individuals diagnosed at a young age or with conditions that share similarities to parkinsonism or Parkinson’s disease, including Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP), Multi Systems Atrophy (MSA) and Diffuse Lewy Body Dementia (DLB). Some groups are organized and operated by the group members. Many receive guidance and support from social workers, nurses, psychologists, or other healthcare professionals. The Massachusetts Chapter and APDA Information & Referral Center are committed to the ongoing development and assistance of support groups in Massachusetts. If you are interested in learning more about a specific group please call 617-638-8466 or 800-651-8466. There are areas in the state that do not have nearby support groups. If you or someone you know is interested in helping to organize a group, please call the I & R Center and we will get you on the way to facilitating a successful group! Support Groups in Massachusetts and New Hampshire Be sure to confirm the group’s meeting time with the group contact. Andover, MA BRIDGES at Andover, 254 Lowell Street, Andover, MA 01810 Meeting Time: 2nd Thursday of each month; 2 – 3 PM (No Meetings Jul. & Aug.) Contact: Kristine Arakelian, LCSW, MPH Phone: 978-623-8320 Email: karakelian@andoverma.gov Arlington, MA Whittlemore-Robbins House, 670R Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington, MA 02476 Meeting Time: 3rd Tuesday of the month, 10:00 – 11:15 AM Contact: Joanne Sliney, BS, RN Phone: 781-316-3405 Email: jsliney@town.arlington.ma.us Ashland, MA Ashland Senior Center, 162 West Union Street, Ashland, MA 01721 Meeting Time: 2nd Wednesday of the month, 1:30-3 PM; no meetings July and August Contact: Jim Bartley Phone: 508-881-8507 Email: jim@bartley.com Contact: Al Ferzoco Phone: 508-376-2238 Email: alex@safetysignal.com Attleboro / Southeastern MA (SEMA) Community VNA, 10 Emory Street, Attleboro, MA 02703 Meeting Time: 2nd Wednesday of the month, 10 AM Contact: Gretchen Robinson Phone: 508-226-2910 Email: whistling.girl2910@gmail.com Attleboro / Southeastern MA (SEMA) Friends and Family Group The Branches, 40 Robert F. Toner Boulevard, North Attleboro, MA 02763 Meeting Time: 4th Saturday of the month, 10 AM Contact: Gretchen Robinson Phone: 508-226-2910 Email: whistling.girl2910@gmail.com For directions, contact: The Branches at 508-418-8286 Beverly, MA / North Shore Beverly Council on Aging, 90 Colon Street, Beverly, MA 01905 Meeting Time: 2nd Monday of the month, 1-3 PM Contact: Ray James, BS, RN Phone: 617-638-7745 Email: rcjames@bu.edu This group is supported by the American Parkinson Disease Association MA Chapter Note: Some meetings may not be held on the 2nd Monday of the month, please contact the Beverly Council on Aging to confirm meeting dates. Boston, MA / Lewy Body Dementia Sherrill House, 135 S Huntington Avenue, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130 Meeting Time: 2nd Thursday of the month, 6-8 PM Contact: Victoria Ruff Phone: 617-710-0136 Email: octoryrose@yahoo.com Bourne, MA / Cape Cod Bourne Council on Aging, 239 Main Street, Buzzards Bay, MA 02532 Meeting Time: 1st Tuesday of the month, 1:30-3:00 PM Contact: Ellen Weinlich, LICSW Phone: 508-280-2691 This group is supported by the American Parkinson Disease Association MA Chapter Braintree, MA / Deep Brain Stimulation Health South Braintree Rehabilitation Center, 2nd Floor AB Conference Room, 250 Pond Street, Braintree, MA 02184 Meeting Time: 2nd Saturday of the Month; 10-11:30 AM Contact: Keith J. Ciccone, BS, LPN Phone: 617-733-8120 Email: keciccon@aol.com Contact: Melissa Diggin, NP Phone: 339-927-5468 Email: m_diggin@hotmail.com This group is supported by the American Parkinson Disease Association MA Chapter Braintree, MA / Multiple System Atrophy, Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, & Corticobasal Degeneration Health South Braintree Rehabilitation Center, 2nd Floor AB Conference Room, 250 Pond Street, Braintree, MA 02184 Meeting Time: JAN 19, MAR 9, MAY 11, JUL 13, SEP 14, NOV 9, 2019; 12:30-2:00 PM Contact: Melissa Diggin, NP Phone: 339-927-5468 Email: m_diggin@hotmail.com This group is supported by the American Parkinson Disease Association MA Chapter Cambridge, MA Youville House Assisted Living, 1573 Cambridge Street, Cambridge, MA 02138 Meeting Time: 2nd Thursday of every month, 3 PM Contact: Youville House Assisted Living, attn: Yanira Motto Phone: 617-491-1234 Email: yaniramotto@youvillehouse.org Chatham / Harwich / Brewster, MA Saint Christopher’s Episcopal Church, 625 Main Street, Chatham, MA 02633 Meeting Time: 3rd Wednesday of the month, 10-11 AM Contact: Betty Magnusson Phone: 508-945-1106 Email: magnulbch@gmail.com Concord, MA Newbury Court, 80 Deaconess Road, Community Room, Concord, MA 01742 Meeting Time: 1st Monday of the month, 2-3 PM Contact: Christine Hobbs, PT Phone: 978-402-8276 Email: chobbs@newburycourt.org Concord, NH/ Young Onset HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital, 254 Pleasant Street, Concord, NH 03301 Meeting Time: 2nd Thursday of the month; 4:30 – 6:30 PM Contact: Sheryl Rambikur Phone: 603-892-2972 Email: sheryl.rambikur@healthsouth.com Dartmouth, MA Dartmouth Senior Center, 628 Dartmouth Street, Dartmouth, MA 02742 Meeting Time: 2nd Thursday of the month, 1-3 PM Contact: Maxwell Polans Phone: 978-907-4270 Email: mpolans@seniorhelpers.com Framingham, MA Callahan Center, 535 Union Avenue, Framingham, MA 01702 Meeting Time: 3rd Tuesday of the month, 1:30-3 PM Contact: Lisa Ushkurnis, LICSW Phone: 508-532-5980 ext.2 This group is supported by the American Parkinson Disease Association MA Chapter Greenfield, MA Baystate Franklin Medical Center, 164 High Street, Greenfield, MA 01301 Meeting Time: 3rd Thursday of the month, 2-4 PM Contact: Garry Earles Phone: 413-863-4128 Email: gle1@comcast.net Hingham, MA Hingham Senior Center, 224 Central Street, Hingham, MA 02403 Meeting Time: 2nd Monday of the month, 11 am- 12 PM Contact: Leslie Vickers, RN, MS Phone: 617-750-2275 Email: Vickers.Leslie@yahoo.com Lexington, MA Lexington Community Center, 39 Marrett Road, Lexington, MA 02421 Meeting Time: 4th Tuesday of the month, 1-2 PM Contact: Alicia Grunes, RN Phone: 781-698-4847 Email: agrunes@lexingtonma.gov Lynnfield, MA Lynnfield Senior Center, 525 Salem Street, Lynnfield, MA 01940 Meeting Time: 1st Thursday of Each Month, 10 – 11 AM Contact: Kim Arouth, BSN, RN Phone: 781-643-6090 Ext. 2202 Email: karouth@thevisitingnurses.com Lynnfield, MA/ Young Parkinson’s Group Centre Congregational Church, Fireside Room, 5 Summer Street, Lynnfield, MA 01940 Meeting Time: 2nd Thursday of Each Month, 6:30 – 8:00 PM Contact: Sonja Vincola, LICSW Phone: 978-853-8742 This group is supported by the American Parkinson Disease Association MA Chapter Marshfield, MA Marshfield Council of Aging, 230 Webster Street, Marshfield, MA 02050 Meeting Time: 3rd Thursday of the month, 1:00-2:30 PM Contact: Leslie Vickers, RN, MS Phone: 617-750-2275 Email: Vickers.Leslie@yahoo.com Martha’s Vineyard / West Tisbury, MA / Vineyard Isle Parkinsonians (VIPs) The Up-Island Council on Aging (Howes House), 1042A State Road, West Tisbury, MA 02575 Meeting Time: 2nd Monday of the month, 10:30-11:30 AM Contact: Bethany Hammond Phone: (508) 693-2896 Email: coa-outreach@westtisbury-ma.gov Contact: Lila Fischer, RN Email: lfischer@gmail.com Mashpee, MA Mashpee Council on Aging, 26 Frank E. Hicks Drive, Mashpee, MA 02649 Meeting Time: 2nd Thursday of the month, 10-11:30 AM Contact: Jeanne Jackson Phone: 508-367-4267 Email: jahjackson@comcast.net Medford, MA Medford Senior Center, 101 Riverside Avenue, Medford, MA 02155 Meeting Time: 1st Tuesday of the month, 10:30 AM Contact: Medford Senior Center Phone: 781-396-6010 Email: pkelly@medford-ma.gov Methuen, MA Nevins Memorial Library, 305 Broadway, Methuen, MA 01844 Meeting Time: 2nd Wednesday of the month; 6 – 7:30 PM Contact: Kathy Sabine Phone: 978-852-2781 Email: ksabine@vicr.com (with any questions about the group) Contact: Tracy J. Pekarski Phone: 978-686-4080 x 19 Email: tpekarski@nevinslibrary.org (to register (not required) or with site questions) Natick, MA/ Women with Parkinson’s and Young Onset Parkinson’s **Please Note: This support group will continue meeting via ZOOM throughout the COVID-19 situation at it’s scheduled day and time. Please contact Liz Brouillard for further details** Natick Community Center, 117 East Main Street, Natick, MA 01760 Meeting Time: First Saturday of the month; 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM Contact: Liz Brouillard Phone: 508-251-9404 Email: lizbroui@yahoo.com Newton, MA / Baby Boomers Eliot Church, 474 Centre Street, Newton, MA 02458 Meeting Time: Monthly Sundays; 2 – 4 PM Contact: Donna McLaughlin, MSW, LICSW Phone: 617-515-4408 Email: donnamclaughlinlicsw@gmail.com This group is supported by the American Parkinson Disease Association MA Chapter Newton / Wellesley, MA The Falls at Cordingly Dam, 2300 Washington Street, Newton, MA 02462 Meeting Time: 1st Wednesday of the month, 6:00 – 7:30 PM Contact: Niki Sinopoli, LICSW Phone: 617-903-0076 Email: niki@nextstepeldercare.com North Attleboro, MA Striking Beauties Fitness Studio, 18 Church Street, North Attleboro, MA 02760 Meeting Time: 3rd Saturday of the Month; 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM Contact: Nancy Quintin Phone:508-991-0857 Email: nancyquintin0814@gmail.com Contact: Dena Paolino Phone: 617-201-1868 Email: dena@strikingbeauties.com Peabody, MA / Care Partner Support Group Harriett and Ralph Kaplan Estates, 240 Lynnfield Street, Peabody, MA 01960 Meeting Time: Click here to see Winter/Spring 2020 meeting times Contact: Anne Muskopf, MS, OTR/L Phone: 781-693-5069 Email: amuskopf@jfcsboston.org Reading, MA Reading Senior Center, 49 Pleasant Street, Reading, MA 01867 Meeting Time: 2nd Wednesday of the month, 1:30- 2:30 PM Contact: Kathy Hill, PT Phone: 781-608-0557 Email: khillma@msn.com Rockland, MA / Care Partners Support Group 110 Fitness, 200B Weymouth Street, Conference Room, Rockland, MA 02370 Meeting Time: 3rd Thursday of the month, 11 AM Contact: Joan Wright, CDP, CADDCT Phone: 781-659-2342 Email: jwright@nvna.org Rockland, MA / Young Parkinson’s Group 110 Fitness, 200B Weymouth Street, Conference Room, Rockland, MA 02370 Meeting Time: 1st Tuesday of the Month beginning MAR 5, 2019; 6 – 7:30 PM Contact: Leslie Vickers, RN, MS Phone: 617-750-2275 Email: Vickers.Leslie@yahoo.com This group is supported by the American Parkinson Disease Association MA Chapter Salem, NH Northeast Rehabilitation Hospital, 70 Butler Street, Salem, NH 03079 Meeting Time: 2nd Thursday of the month, 11 AM Contact: Sarah Ellis, OT/L Phone: 603-681-3241 Scituate, MA Scituate Senior Center at Scituate Harbor Community Center, 44 Jericho Road, Scituate, MA 02066 Meeting Time: 3rd Tuesday of the month, NEW Time beg. November 2019 – 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM Contact: Leslie Vickers, RN, MS Phone: 617-750-2275 Email: Vickers.Leslie@yahoo.com Sharon, MA Sharon Adult Center, 219 Massapoag Avenue, Sharon, MA 02067 Meeting Time: 1st Monday of the month, 1-2:30 PM Contact: Melissa Shea Phone: 781-784-8000 Email: mshea@townofsharon.org Contact: Susan Edinger, LICSW Email: sedinger@townofsharon.org Southampton, MA / Westfield Region DopaFit Parkinson’s Movement Center, 15 College Highway, Unit C, Southampton, MA 01073 Meeting Time: 2nd Saturday of the month, 10 AM – 12 PM Contact: Chad Moir Phone: 203-828-7189 Email: cmoir@mydopafit.com Springfield, MA Jewish Community Center, 1160 Dickinson Street, Springfield, MA 01108 Meeting Time: 3rd Tuesday of each month, 10:30 AM, SEP – JUN Contact: Joyce Dupont Phone: 413-323-4274 Email: JdupontB@aol.com This group is supported by the American Parkinson Disease Association MA Chapter Sterling, MA Sterling Senior Center, 35 Muddy Pond Road, Sterling, MA 01564 Meeting Time: Once monthly Wednesdays, 3:30 – 5:00 PM Contact: Joe O’Connor Phone: 978-422-6612 Email: northworcparkies@yahoo.com Stoneham, MA Circle of Friends Support Group Stoneham Senior Center, 136 Elm Street, Stoneham, MA 02180 Meeting Time: 1st Tuesday of the month, 1:00 – 2:00 PM Contact: Howard Porter Phone: 781-438-0326 Waltham, MA / Care Partner Support Group Jewish Family & Children’s Services, 1430 Main Street, Waltham, MA 02451 Meeting Time: Call for dates/times and to register Contact: Anne Muskopf, MS, OTR/L Phone: 781-693-5069 Email: amuskopf@jfcsboston.org Wellesley, MA Tolles Parsons Center, 500 Washington Street, Wellesley, MA 02482 Meeting Time: 1st Friday of the Month *No Meeting March 2020*, 10:30 AM-11:30 AM Contact: Kate Burnham, LCSW Phone: 781-235-3961 ext. 6424 Email: kburnham@wellesleyma.gov This group is supported by the American Parkinson Disease Association MA Chapter Westborough, MA Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 183 West Main Street, Westborough, MA 01581 Meeting Time: Meets weekly on Fridays, 10:30 AM-12 PM Contact: Tom Olsen Phone: 508-614-9135 Email: Contact@wpdsg.org Williamstown, MA / Berkshires 651 Henderson Road, Williamstown, MA 01267 Meeting Time: Last Friday of the month, 1 PM Contact: Marcia Gross Phone: 413-458-8427 Email: lhgross@roadrunner.com Worcester, MA / Central MA Parkinson’s Support Group **Please Note: This support group will continue meeting via ZOOM throughout the COVID-19 situation at it’s scheduled day and time. Please contact Elizabeth Austin for further details** Saint Vincent Hospital, 123 Summer Street, Room 581 North, Worcester, MA 01608 Meeting Time: 1st Wednesday of the month, 6:30 – 8:00 PM Contact: Elizabeth Austin, PsyD Phone: 508-755-2056 Email: elizabeth@etaustin.com This group is supported by the American Parkinson Disease Association MA Chapter Yarmouth, MA Yarmouth Senior Center, 528 Forest Road, West Yarmouth, MA 02673 Meeting Time: Last Thursday of the month, 2:00 – 3:30 PM Contact: Ellen Weinlich, LICSW Phone: 508-280-2691 This group is supported by the American Parkinson Disease Association MA Chapter
