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WHAT CAN YOU DO? ~~~ WE HAVE SOME SUGGESTIONS FOR YOU
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Duncan says there is a lot of things you can do.
Photo by Dr. Ben Herz
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READ and RESEARCH for information
ATTEND support group meetings / events / seminars / classes / lectures
LEARN about lifestyle decisions you will need to make
MAKE SURE your legal and medical documents are up-to-date
ASK QUESTIONS - ASK QUESTIONS - ASK QUESTIONS!
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Here are a few things you can do to support the Parkinson's community:
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Educate yourself and others about Parkinson's
According to the National Parkinson Foundation, for individuals diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, Self-Care and Education are crucial for dealing with the progression of the disease; and attending support group meetings provide an important component for this self-care.
Learn as much as you can about Parkinson's. The better educated you are, the better you can manage your own health care, or that of your loved one. Our web site has a lot of information and resources to help you get started.
Did you know?
Every nine minutes an individual is diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease.
There are 60,000 new cases of Parkinson's Disease a year.
There are over 1,000,000 million Parkinson patients in the United States.
There is no “definitive test” that can confirm Parkinson's disease.
Currently there is no cure for Parkinson's. Medication can substitute for the missing dopamine, but it is only a temporary solution.
Parkinson's is not just your grandparent's or "old folks" disease.
The total cost to the nation is estimated to exceed $6 billion annually.
Without more federal funding for research to find a cure for Parkinson's, numbers will only increase each year
Click here to learn more about "What Is Parkinson's Disease?" |
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| Get involved in support group meetings
Get Involved in your local support group and help them to help you and others. By participating in support group meetings you will learn more about Parkinson's disease, about self-care, and how to help yourself.
We encourage you, your caregiver, your family and friends to join and actively participate in a support group.
Click here for meeting information about the Columbia Parkinson's Support Group
Click here
to learn more about support groups -and- where to find a support group in South Carolina [Please note that this page may load slowly due to video on the page]
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Catherine Beard
February 15, 2009 Meeting
Photo by Dottie Gantt
Support groups often provide the first experience of being understood, the first opportunity to identify with others who are coping with Parkinson's.
[from Northwest Parkinson's Foundation - Parkinson's Post May / June 2011] |
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Volunteer ~ It's not all about money - We need you to help us help you
You can share and donate in many different ways to your local Parkinson's support group. Your donation doesn't always have to be financial or about money. While every dollar counts, you can also donate and contribute your time and your talents to help your local support group. Volunteering to a cause that's important to you is extremely gratifying.
Like many support groups, the Columbia Parkinson's Support Group's web site, monthly programs, and services are made possible because of our wonderful volunteers and their wonderful support by donating of their time, talents, resources, and other types of contributions. There are many different ways you can volunteer.
Some members of our Columbia Parkinson's Support Group, have found a "unique way" to volunteer. They volunteered to be interviewed during Parkinson Awareness Month (in April) by local TV stations in Columbia, SC .
Their interviews helped to create Parkinson's disease awareness by showing how PD patients live with Parkinson's.
As a volunteer you will not only will you help your local Parkinson’s support group, but you will feel better personally by volunteering and giving back to your community. You can volunteer and share your experience, skills and talents; and you can volunteer to learn new skills.
Contact us for more information on how you can volunteer your time, talents, and resources.
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Spread the word and become an advocate for yourself and the Parkinson's community
Your family, friends, neighbors, community, and state and local governments need to hear and learn from you about Parkinson's. It is important that you tell them about Parkinson's and why it is important that a cure is needed in your lifetime. Use your voice to help create awareness about Parkinson's disease. Become an active advocate for Parkinson's and yourself. Help publicize the need to help for a cure.
For Parkinson's Awareness Month in April, help focus your community and media on Parkinson's disease. Help obtain a proclamation issued in your community, town, city, county, and state.
You can use for an example the wording as shown in the 2011 SC Governor's Proclamation
Your local library can be a great spot for providing education about Parkinson's. You can help set-up a display of educational materials and books about Parkinson's. Many of the national Parkinson's organizations will furnish material for free.
National Parkinson Foundation LIbrary - Parkinson's Disease Foundation Publications
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Learn about and participate in clinical trials
A clinical trial (also clinical research) is a research study in human volunteers to answer specific health questions. Choosing to participate in a clinical trial is an important personal decision. Participation in clinical trials is another way to support Parkinson's disease and to help find a cure. Click Here To Find More Information About Clinical Trials
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Click Here for more information on how to donate to honor and memorialize your loved one, and to support those living with Parkinson's.
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Duncan Donates To Parkinson's!
Photo by Dr. Ben Herz |
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Help The Parkinson's Community To Get A United States Postage Stamp!
People like Michael J. Fox, Muhammad Ali, Billy Graham, and Janet Reno have brought great awareness to the PD community. Think about the magnitude of awareness if the Parkinson's community had a Parkinson's Disease Awareness postage stamp designed and sold through the United States Postal Service (USPS).
On April 23, 2006, Claire Salamon applied to the Postal Service’s Citizen’s Stamp Advisory Committee for a series of 4 stamps about Incurable Diseases of the Central Nervous System and Spinal Cord Injuries. In her application, Claire suggested that the red tulip be used on the Parkinson's disease stamp, if it is approved. This petition will be sent to the USPS – in support of Claire’s application – requesting that they use this red PD Tulip (designed by Karen Painter) on the Parkinson's disease stamp. Click here to add your name to the PD Stamp petition |
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