Looking for a specific post? Search using the box below, or browse by topic.
Blog
Blog
Looking for a specific post? Search using the box below, or browse by topic.
Darlene’s Parkinson’s disease initially manifested itself with a quiver in her lip and progressed over 25 years to symptoms serious enough to warrant entry into a hospice program. As her caregiver, I have witnessed a decline characterized by relatively sudden (typically within months) onset of new symptoms followed by relatively long (typically years) “plateaus” of stability.
In June, the Parkinson's community came together to celebrate creativity. The first Parkinson's Creativity Expo showcased visual and performing arts (dance, as well as vocal and instrumental music) by people living with Parkinson's. The event was co-sponsored by Parkinson Support and Wellness and Cincinnati Ballet, which conducts Parkinson's-specific classes through their CB Moves program, and supported through a generous grant from Ohio Arts Council.
Parkinson Support and Wellness and Cincinnati Ballet are teaming up to celebrate the creativity of Persons with Parkinson’s! Cincinnati Ballet’s Margaret & Michael Valentine Center for Dance will host an afternoon of live performances, hands-on activities, and an art exhibit, —all from artists with Parkinson’s. Whether you are creative or just interested in connecting to the arts, this FREE event has something for everyone!
When we hear the term "Parkinson's Disease", we often associate thoughts of hallmark motor symptoms, neurologists, and the importance of physical exercise. Recently, there has been a push to educate regarding the importance of a speech pathologist. But why is there so much "chatter" around this discipline? In case you didn't catch our PD EDU in October of 2023, or need a refresher, let's dive into some benefits.
One month into the new year, are you already tired of hearing about the exercise program your ‘friends’ on FB are doing? I know I am!
Perhaps you’re reading others very public goals and thinking, “yeah, that’s great but, I have Parkinsons Disease!”.
Well, hold on now. There is one thing I do know; persons with Parkinson's disease must exercise daily. “Exercise can decrease your symptoms, help your medication work better and this is the big one, may even slow disease progression…” this according to Dr. Rachel Dolhun, movement disorder specialist and lifestyle medicine physician at The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.
“I have REM Behavior Sleep Disorder” I announced very matter of factly. The response, “What is that!?” someone asked. I responded, “REM Behavior Sleep Disorder (aka RBD) is a sleep disorder that causes people to act out their dreams while in the REM stage of sleep. “Basically, you are physically and/or vocally acting out your dreams.”
Hello, my name is Denise Rieman. I am a Registered Nurse educated at the University of Cincinnati. I am a lifetime resident of Cincinnati, Ohio. I have been living with Parkinson's Disease for over nine years. My journey with Parkinson's began following two years of failure to diagnose. Having to advocate for myself to reach a diagnosis of Parkinson's, I am passionate about advocating for persons unable to navigate the healthcare system themselves and raising awareness about the disease. The years since have been challenging, but it has also taught me a lot about resilience, hope, and the importance of community.
Parkinson Support & Wellness’s Harvey Chyette Spring Educational Forum returns to Manor House on April 20, 2024.
Hosted on Sat April 27, 2024 6:00 pm (Doors: 5:00 pm ) at The Southgate House Revival - Sanctuary.
Holidays can be full of joy and excitement, but also tricky to navigate if you have any sort of chronic illness. The keys to enjoying the holidays can be sorted into a few important categories: maintain routines, be alert to safety issues, ask for and accept the help you need, and keep it simple.
Blog written by: Eric Minghella, emm@ssd-help.org
Parkinson’s disease typically affects older people, but if you haven’t yet reached the age where you want to retire and you’ve been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease you can apply for Social Security disability benefits. If the symptoms of Parkinson’s are so bad that you can’t work any longer and you expect that you won’t be able to work for at least a year but you have work credits you are eligible for Social Security disability benefits.
‘Steady Strides 2023 presented by Supernus: A Remarkable Journey of Hope and Community’ A note from our Executive Director, Chris Gaffney
Early registration price ends on Thursday, August 31 at 11:59 PM for our 15th annual Steady Strides 5K walk/race! Register today for $35! After that registration will be $40!
We had a blast at our fundraising night at the Florence Y’alls on July 29! It was Christmas in July that evening and you could feel the holiday spirit in the air!
Parkinson's Support & Wellness hosted a Support Group Facilitator Training program in early July for folks who may be interested in starting a new support group in their geographic area.
Recent scientific research has highlighted a potential connection between Parkinson’s disease and exposure to contaminants found in the water supply at Camp Lejeune, a U.S. Marine Corps base in North Carolina.
The human need for companionship and connection to others is as basic as the need for food and water. Feeling lonely is bad for not only your mental health, but for your physical health. If you are living with PD, you are even more at risk for feeling lonely and disconnected, but here are a few ways to combat that.
There is something about aging that involves fear of the unknown. There is loss and surrender, which causes me to fear. I am the youngest of six siblings, my oldest brother will be 85 this year. He is in good health except for chronic back issues and pain. The rest of my siblings are 83, 78, 77, and 76. I look at the next 10 years as a series of potential losses for me.
Parkinson Support and Wellness is excited to announce our 15th annual Steady Strides 5k Walk/Race on September 30.
Getting a diagnosis like PD can bring about a desire to live NOW. A feeling that life should be enjoyed and embraced while we are able to do so. The time to evaluate a personal “bucket list” is NOW. Everyone has a personal and often quirky bucket list but many, many lists include travel.
Continuing our look at exercise providers in the Greater Cincinnati area, we turn now to the Neurofit Gym, a non-profit organization in Northern Cincinnati specializing in helping those with neurological disorders, including Parkinson's Disease. Through exercise, education, community, and connection, their mission is to help these individuals live healthier and more independent lives.
Recently the Parkinson’s community has been buzzing with news of a research breakthrough. It was announced in the Michael J. Fox Foundation newsletter of Spring/Summer 2023 that a new tool (called the alpha-synuclein seeding amplification assay) has been discovered that “can detect pathology in spinal fluid not only of people diagnosed with Parkinson’s, but also . . . [of those] at a high risk for developing it.”
Parkinson's disease has been a part of my life and family for as long as I can remember; my grandpa was diagnosed with the condition when I was little. From my earliest recollections of him, Parkinson's was an ever-present reality. I remember my dad telling me stories of my grandpa before his diagnosis, and those two people seemed so different. I've heard he was active, charismatic, and had a bit of a temper. I didn't know that guy.
An important non-pharmacological treatment for Parkinson’s disease is massage therapy. Many people think of massage as simply an indulgence, but massage therapy does more than just relax you; it can be very helpful for several of the difficult symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.
Our first back in-person Spring Educational Forum happened this past month on April 1. We were so excited to see so many people attend!
