Support Groups Join our Community About Support Groups Please find information about support groups in Massachusetts below. This listing is broken into groups for people with Parkinson’s and families and groups for care partners. Please contact the group facilitator if you have any questions about a particular group. If you would like guidance in finding a group that may be a good match for you, please reach out to the APDA Information and Referral Center at BUMC at 617-638-8466 or toll-free at 800-651-8466. 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! Find Support Groups for People with Parkinson's and Families Support Groups in Massachusetts and New Hampshire Be sure to confirm the group’s meeting time with the group contact. Andover, MA This support group will begin meeting in person on Thursday, October 14, 2021. Contact the facilitator for more information. The Robb Center, 30 Whittier Court, Andover, MA 01810 Meeting Time: 2nd Thursday of each month; 1:30 – 3:00 PM (No Meetings Jul. & Aug.) Register: Kelly MacKay, 978-623-8320 Contact: Kristine Arakelian, LCSW, MPH Phone: 978-623-8320 Email: karakelian@andoverma.gov Arlington, MA This support group is currently not meeting due to COVID 19. More information to follow. 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 This group is supported by the American Parkinson Disease Association MA Chapter Ashland, MA This support group is not meeting in person at this time due to Covid 19 restrictions. The group is staying connected with news updates provided by the facilitators. 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 Beverly, MA / North Shore This group will meet via Zoom for the foreseeable future. Please contact the facilitator for further details. 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 This group will meet via Zoom for the foreseeable future. Please contact the facilitator for further details. 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 Braintree, MA / Deep Brain Stimulation This group will meet via Zoom for the foreseeable future. Please contact the facilitator for further details. 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 This group will meet via Zoom for the foreseeable future. Please contact the facilitator for further details. Health South Braintree Rehabilitation Center, 2nd Floor AB Conference Room, 250 Pond Street, Braintree, MA 02184 Meeting Time: 2nd Saturday of the Month; 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 Brookline, MA This group will meet via Zoom for the foreseeable future. Please contact the facilitator for further details. Goddard House Assisted Living, 135 Chestnut Street, Brookline, MA 02445 Virtual ZOOM Meeting Time: 1st Wednesday of the month, 2:15 – 3:30 PM Contact: Bob DePeron, Right at Home Boston Metro West Phone: 617-597.1500 Email: bob@rahbostonmetro.com Cambridge, MA This group will meet via Zoom for the foreseeable future. Please contact the facilitator for further details. 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 Burgos Phone: 617-491-1234 Email: yaniraburgos@youvillehouse.org Chatham / Harwich / Brewster, MA This support group is currently not meeting due to COVID 19. More information to follow. 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 This group will meet via Zoom for the foreseeable future. Please contact the facilitator for further details. Newbury Court, 80 Deaconess Road, Community Room, Concord, MA 01742 Meeting Time: 1st Monday of the month, 2-3 PM Contact: Ellen Levinson Phone: 978-402-8276 Email: – elevinson@newburycourt.org Concord, NH/ Young Onset This support group is not meeting in person at this time due to Covid 19 restrictions. The group is staying connected with news updates provided by the facilitators. 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 Framingham, MA This group will meets onsite one meeting per month, and via ZOOM for one meeting per month. Please contact the facilitator for further details. Callahan Center, 535 Union Avenue, Framingham, MA 01702 Meeting Time: 1st Tuesday of the month, 1:00 – 2:30 PM – ZOOM Meeting 3rd Tuesday of the month, 1:00 – 2:30 PM – Onsite Meeting Contact: Lisa Ushkurnis, LICSW Phone: 508-532-5980 ext.2 This group is supported by the American Parkinson Disease Association MA Chapter Greenfield, MA This support group is currently not meeting due to COVID 19. More information to follow. 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 Lynnfield, MA This group will be meeting virtually via Zoom in October, 2020. Contact the facilitator for details. 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 This group will meet via Zoom for the foreseeable future. Please contact the facilitator for further details. 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 Martha’s Vineyard / West Tisbury, MA / Vineyard Isle Parkinsonians (VIPs) This group will meet via Zoom for the foreseeable future. This group also meets for a socially distanced walk outside; please contact facilitator Bethany for more information. 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@ihimv.org Mashpee, MA This support group is currently meeting via Zoom. Click here to see a flyer. Contact the facilitator for more information. 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 This support group is currently not meeting due to COVID 19. More information to follow. 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 Natick, MA/ Women with Parkinson’s and Young Onset Parkinson’s This group will meet via Zoom for the foreseeable future. Please contact the facilitator for further details. Natick Community Center, 117 East Main Street, Natick, MA 01760 Meeting Time: First Saturday of the month; 11 AM – 12 PM Contact: Liz Brouillard Phone: 508-251-9404 Email: lizbroui@gmail.com Newton, MA / Baby Boomers This group is currently on hiatus. More details to follow. Eliot Church, 474 Centre Street, Newton, MA 02458 Meeting Time: Monthly Sundays; 2 – 4 PM Contact: Donna McLaughlin, MSW, LICSW Email: donnamclaughlinlicsw@gmail.com This group is supported by the American Parkinson Disease Association MA Chapter North Attleboro, MA This group will meet via Zoom for the foreseeable future. Please contact the facilitator for further details. 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 Reading, MA This support group is currently not meeting due to COVID 19. More information to follow. 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 / South Shore During the pandemic, the Hingham, Marshfield, Rockland & Scituate groups will meet virtually in a combined group. Please contact Leslie Vickers for further details. 110 Fitness, 200B Weymouth Street, Conference Room, Rockland, MA 02370 Meeting Time: Tuesdays (contact Leslie Vickers for dates); 5:30 – 6:30 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 Sharon, MA This support group will continue meeting via ZOOM for the foreseeable future. Please contact Melissa Shea for further details 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: susanedinger@yahoo.com Sterling, MA Beginning July 28, this group will meet via hybrid model (in-person as well as via Zoom). Please contact Joe O’Connor for further details Sterling Senior Center, 35 Muddy Pond Road, Sterling, MA 01564 Meeting Time: Monthly Wednesdays, 3:30 – 5:00 PM Contact: Joe O’Connor Phone: 978-422-6612 Email: northworcparkies@yahoo.com Virtual Parkinson’s Pride LGBTQ+ Support Group This group meets virtually on a monthly basis. Space is limited and registration is required. Click here for a flyer Contact: Mikayla Hyman Email: mhyman@bidmc.harvard.edu Phone: 202-495-3327 Wellesley, MA This support group will be meeting virtually via Zoom. More information to follow. Tolles Parsons Center, 500 Washington Street, Wellesley, MA 02482 Meeting Time: 1st Friday of the Month, 10:30 AM-11:30 AM Contact: Niki Sinopoli, LICSW Email (preferred): niki@nextstepeldercare.com Phone: 617-903-0076 This group is supported by the American Parkinson Disease Association MA Chapter Westborough, MA This group is meeting via ZOOM weekly. Please contact Tom Olsen for further details. 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 Worcester, MA / Central MA Parkinson’s Support Group Please Note: This support group is currently on hiatus. Please contact the facilitator for more 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 Find Support Groups for Care Partners Support Groups for Care Partners & Family Members in Massachusetts APDA Virtual Care Partners Group This group meets virtually on a monthly basis (4th Wednesday of the month). Beginning Sept. 9, 2021, the group will meet twice monthly (2nd Thursday of the month & 4th Wednesday of the month). Registration takes place online. Dates & Times: 4th Wednesday of the month; 1:15 – 2:15 PM Beginning Sept. 9th: 2nd Thursday of the month; 6:30 – 7:30 PM Register: Click here to register online Contact: Sarah Singer Email: singer.sarah.j@gmail.com This group is supported by the American Parkinson Disease Association MA Chapter Peabody, MA / Care Partner Support Group A new virtual Zoom session of this group begins in September. Click here to see a flyer. Please contact the facilitator for further details. Harriett and Ralph Kaplan Estates, 240 Lynnfield Street, Peabody, MA 01960 Contact: Anne Muskopf, MS, OTR/L Phone: 781-693-5069 Email: amuskopf@jfcsboston.org Rockland, MA / Care Partners Support Group This group will meet via Zoom for the foreseeable future. Please contact the facilitator for further details. 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 Waltham, MA / Adult Children of PWP Support Group/Care Partner Groups These groups currently meet via Zoom. There are currently three groups ongoing at various times and for various situations. please contact Anne Muskopf to learn more and to find a group that best fits your needs 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
