Professionally-facilitated, eight-week support group program features tailored content focused on psychosocial needs of people starting on their Parkinson’s disease journey
The American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) is expanding a unique eight-week standardized support group program to now serve people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) in West Palm Beach, FL. The Parkinson’s Roadmap for Education and Support Services™ (PRESS™) program was created in an effort to elevate the quality of support provided to people living with PD featuring a specific curriculum designed to address the psychosocial aspects of life with PD. Each PRESS group is facilitated by a credentialed psychosocial healthcare professional and designed to serve as an “onboarding” for people who have been diagnosed with PD within the past five years, to address the unique and specific issues they face. Originally piloted in six locations across the country in 2017, the program was so well-received that it has since expanded to more than 20 locations, now including West Palm Beach, FL. The eight-week program begins on November 29 and will be held at the Forum Building. Registration is free, but required. Interested people who miss the initial session are able to join in for week two. The remaining six sessions are closed to new members.
While many of the existing peer-led support groups around the country are highly beneficial to those whom attend, APDA’s PRESS program offers a more specific and structured format along with the guidance of an experienced facilitator, in an effort to bring qualified support at a critical time. Peer-led support groups offer many benefits, however, the PRESS program is meant as an important starting point to help the newly diagnosed get the information and support they desperately need from a professional facilitator. This particular series will be facilitated by Keisha Henry, MSW, LCSW, EMDR Psychotherapist and is organized by the APDA South Florida Chapter in Deerfield Beach, FL.
“High quality education and support are critical to a successful PD journey. We saw a need for a more specific support program, especially for those who are just starting to navigate the world of Parkinson’s.” states Leslie Chambers, President and CEO, APDA. “We’re excited to offer this program across the country after the positive feedback from participants in the pilot phase. It’s one more way APDA can help people with PD live life to the fullest.”
The PRESS program was designed by qualified team of health care professionals with extensive experience working with support groups and the PD community. APDA evaluated the program in all test locations in order to maximize the effectiveness before rolling the program out across the country, including pre-, post- and three-month evaluations. The program is open to anyone who has been diagnosed with PD within the past five years, but will be limited 10-15 members per eight-week series.
The eight-session PRESS program follows a thoughtfully prepared series of topics that will help people better understand Parkinson’s and provide them with important emotional and social support:
The program will be offered in West Palm Beach starting November 29, 2018:
1.What’s Next After Diagnosis (Nov 29)
2.Medication Management of Parkinson’s (Dec 6)
3.Importance of Exercise in PD (Dec 13)
4.Dealing with the Physical Symptoms of PD (Dec 27)
5.Impact of Parkinson’s on Daily Coping and Relationships (Jan 3)
6.Tips for Daily Living (Jan 10)
7.Caring for Others, Caring for Yourself (Jan 17)
8.Building Your Healthcare Team (Jan 31)
Location:
The Forum Building
1655 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd, Ste 504-C
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
For information about this PRESS program and to register, contact Keisha Henry at 561-463-6620 or mmcinc18@gmail.com.
The program is made possible in part to Presenting Sponsor, Lundbeck, and Supporting Sponsor, Acorda.
About APDA:
The American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) is the largest grassroots network dedicated to fighting Parkinson’s disease (PD) and works tirelessly to assist the more than 1 million Americans with PD and their families live life to the fullest in the face of this chronic, neurological disorder. Founded in 1961, APDA has raised and invested more than $177 million to provide outstanding patient services and educational programs, elevate public awareness about the disease, and support research designed to unlock the mysteries of PD and ultimately put an end to this disease. To join us in the fight against Parkinson’s disease and to learn more about the support APDA provides nationally through our network of Chapters and Information and Referral (I&R) Centers, as well as our national Research Grant Program and Centers of Advanced Research, please visit us at http://apdaparkinson.org.
