A W A R E N E S S
E D U C A T I O N
A D V O C A C Y
C A R E
P A R K I N S O N ’ S
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P U B L I C A T I O N
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Post
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Conference promotes wellness | 2
Sing, sing out loud! | 3
Addressing levodopa phobia | 4-5
The Parkinson’s balancing act | 5
Tribute gifts | 6
The helping page | 7
T H E
N O R T H W E S T
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The Parkinson’s Post is published by
the Northwest Parkinson’s Foundation,
a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Our mission is to establish
optimal quality of life for the
Northwest Parkinson's community
through awareness, education,
advocacy and care.
We welcome your comments on this
newsletter and all our activities.
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Parkinson’s
doesn’t put
brakes on
active life
BY VIVIAN BRANSCHOFSKY
I
A
P A R K I N S O N ’ S
found out I had Parkinson’s
eight years ago at age 47. I’d
been experiencing symptoms
for three years and believed my
problems were work-related.
The plant nursery I owned and
operated required enormous
physical strength and stamina,
but it was a job I loved.
When my husband mentioned I was
walking strangely and not swinging my
arm, it didn’t alarm me. I attributed it to
working hard and being tired. When he
pointed out I was picking things up with
my left hand and handing them to my
right hand, it occurred to me that my fine
motor skills seemed to be impaired on my
dominant side.
After seeing a hand doctor for an
unrelated problem in my left hand, I said
to him, “By the way, I seem to be losing
some fine motor skills in my right hand.”
After a quick examination he set me up
the following day for a neurological exam.
The diagnosis sent me into a bit of a
tail spin for about six months. I was
Fritz and Vivian Branschofsky
imagining wheelchairs and selling our
house for a more accessible home. And
then there was weeping at very odd
moments. It was not always easy, but I
made an attempt to spread my “breakdowns” among different friends so that
no one would want to avoid me.
My very physical, upbeat and energetic self was flipping out with the
thought of losing all I had taken for
granted for so many years—namely my
health and all the activities I enjoyed that
depended on it.
But I soon began to realize that not
much had changed about the way I was
living and spending time. And then I had a
conversation with a friend who had
recently been diagnosed with multiple
sclerosis. She was bereft. Inconsolable. She
cried and raged for a long time and I
listened. Finally I told her, “You have a
right to grieve, but you need to make
some decisions. First off, you are not
dying with this disease. You are living with
it, and probably for a long time. How will
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Wellness conference
serves up guidance
on nutrition, exercise
By Keri Kellerman
The Northwest Parkinson’s Foundation
presented its first Wellness and
Parkinson’s Conference in March.
Focusing on nutrition, exercise and
stress management, this conference was
designed to educate people with
Parkinson’s and their families about
practical tools they can use in addition
to proper medication management and
specialized care to achieve optimal
quality of life.
The program featured three
sessions led by Monique Giroux, M.D.,
medical director of the Northwest
Parkinson’s Foundation and the Booth
Gardner Parkinson’s Care Center; Sierra
Farris, PA-C, of Evergreen Healthcare
and the Booth Gardner Parkinson’s
Care Center; and Martha Glisky, Ph.D.,
of Evergreen Healthcare and the Booth
Gardner Parkinson’s Care Center. These
sessions were followed by breakout
sessions guided by specialists in the
field: Tim Seiwareth, a yoga instructor
at Northwest and Swedish hospitals;
Jan Fite, Ph.D., clinical psychologist at
the University of Washington; and
Donna Oiland of the Department of
Spiritual Care at Evergreen Healthcare.
More than 350 people from
Western Washington and beyond
attended the event, which was offered
free of charge. Conference costs were
generously underwritten by sponsors
and exhibitors, including educational
grants from Teva Neuroscience,
Novartis, Boehringer Ingelheim and
Amgen. Additional support was
provided by Medtronic, Aegis Living
and With a Little Help Inc.
If you were unable to attend, you
can find copies of the conference
materials at our online wellness center
(nwpf.org/wellness), or call us toll-free
at 877.980.7500 to receive copies.
2
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you get on with your life?”
Later, my friend told me that no
one had spoken to her like I had since
her diagnosis. She said my words
turned her around and helped her begin
to accept what was happening to her.
This change of attitude had been
evolving with me, too. Not once had I
felt like “Why me?” because we all have
our own reality, our own problems to
bear. And although I didn’t like this new
dimension of my life, I couldn’t think
of anyone with whom I would change
places. My life was pretty terrific in all
the other ways that counted, and there
was a lot I still wanted to accomplish.
For two and a half years I didn’t
require medication. The doctor heading
a study in which I was participating
finally suggested I try some meds. After
describing a meltdown in a dressing
room while trying on clothes, he
suggested elastic (instead of buttons
and zippers) or meds.
I took about a month to make the
decision to help myself. We people with
Parkinson’s are so lucky to have treatment choices. Most other neurological
diseases are much less treatable.
I decided I would close my
business since the work had become
more difficult and stressful, and this
was a good decision. My husband was
fearful I would stop being active, but I
wasn’t. The “elastic” comment from
my doctor was a real motivator. I
wanted to prioritize exercise as a way to
prepare for the fight ahead.
All my life, I had been the tomboy
and the jock, and very competitive.
Even with Parkinson’s, it was fun to try
everything, and I found I still had the
desire to place—heck, I wanted to win!
My husband and friends were always
encouraging me and there was every
external reason to remain interested in
“play” and lots of personal reasons.
About this time I began riding
horses again, something I hadn’t done in
years. Who knew I’d be able to ride
M A R C H / A P R I L 2 0 1 0 PARKINSON’S POST
better than walk at times? It was so
exciting, and jumping lessons were the
natural progression—right? Right!
I had taught downhill skiing for
many years and had started having
difficulties I could not understand at the
time. Frustration made me give it up
for a year, but the winters are long in
Vermont without some outdoor
activities and I started again, only I was
skiing the long cruising runs instead of
the moguls. I realize now that my
difficulties were early manifestations of
Parkinson’s—long before diagnosis.
While my medications have been
increased over the years, so have the
many things in which I participate.
Gardening is still a big part of my life,
but I’m reducing the number of
gardens I maintain. Hiking, bicycling,
volleyball, skiing, anything that gives me
the chance to challenge my body, is fully
embraced. A series of morning exercises enables me to maintain the
strength, flexibility and stamina with
which to meet all daily challenges.
I’m lucky because “active play” has
always been part of my life. My
husband, friends and doctors encourage
my active lifestyle and share my certainty
that it has slowed my progression.
I know exercise and sports are not
a part of all our lives, but I’m here to
tell you that movement in any form,
whether done in a chair, by walking to
get your mail, or by dancing, is all good!
It is also interesting that the more
you do, the more you are inclined to do,
and doing makes you feel good about
yourself. Many studies show that
exercise improves mood, and depression is treated as well by exercise as by
medicine in lots of cases.
As long as we’re on this earth, we
may as well get as much joy as we can
from each day. Life is for living.
Attitude matters. In fact, I’m going to
forget my problems for a while... and
go skiing!
Vivian Branschofsky and her husband
Fritz live in Gransville, Vermont.
C O N N E C T I N G
T H R O U G H
S O N G
Members of the Spokane Tremble Clefs do warm-up stretches at a recent gathering.
Singing group strengthens voices, connections
By Walter Jakubowski
Sing, sing out loud! That’s what members of the Spokane
Tremble Clefs do when they assemble each week for
an hour of fun, voice exercise and camaraderie.
The Tremble Clefs is a nationwide program of
vocal exercises and singing designed to help people
with Parkinson’s (and their caregivers) lessen the impact
of Parkinson’s disease on the voice.
People with Parkinson’s often lose vocal strength
and expression. These speech problems are caused by
incoordination or reduced movement of the muscles
we use in breathing, voice, pronunciation and prosody
(a ten-dollar word for rhythm, intonation and speaking
rate). Exercising the voice helps to counter vocal
diminishment.
In addition to the vocal exercise, the Tremble Clefs
fosters social interaction, which encompasses sharing,
encouragement and support for one another.
Speech-language pathologists have developed
therapy programs specifically designed to address
speech and vocal problems for those with Parkinson’s.
The Tremble Clefs adds the benefits associated with
group interaction. And the beneficial effects of music
therapy on cognition, memory, movement and mood
continue to be documented.
Speech-language pathologist Karen Hesley started
the original Tremble Clefs group in Scottsdale, Ariz., in
1994. The Spokane group started out in 2005, meeting
twice each month with just four members. These days
there are closer to 25 folks with Parkinson’s on the
roster. Adding in partners and caregivers results in a
potential pool of 40 to 45 participants, although most
sessions have a group size of about 20.
Each one-hour session begins with a 10-minute
series of breathing and oral and vocal warm-ups
designed to improve the volume, projection and quality
of participants’ voices. The warm-ups are followed by
singing old favorite songs to the accompaniment of
music played on a grand piano. The lyrics are projected
for all to see using an overhead projector and screen.
Projecting the lyrics, rather than having them in printed
booklets, makes it easier to maintain appropriate
posture while singing.
A number of the members were asked why they
joined the group. Just about everyone said they joined
to address the soft-voice symptoms of Parkinson’s.
When asked about the reasons for coming back, the
responses include terms like camaraderie, friendship,
inspiration and fun.
So, would you like to improve your voice? Would
you like to make new friends and elevate your mood?
Would you like to have fun? If you said “yes” to any
of these questions, then join or start a Tremble Clefs
group and make a joyful noise by singing out loud!
If you are interested in forming your own group,
an excellent source of information, including a guide
detailing the key elements that should be addressed, can
be found at trembleclefs.com.
Walter Jakubowski lives in Spokane, Washington, and is a
founding member of the Spokane Tremble Clefs.
PARKINSON’S
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Y O U
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M E D I C A T I O N S
Misperceptions,
fears underpin
levodopa phobia
By Susie Ro, M.D.
Levodopa, also known as L-dopa, is
the key ingredient in many medications—including Sinemet, Sinemet CR,
Atamet, Madopar, Stalevo and
Parcopa—used
to treat the
motor symptoms of
Parkinson’s
disease. It has
been around
for more than
40 years and
remains the
“gold standard” among
Parkinson’s medications. It is the most
potent drug that helps all the cardinal
motor symptoms of Parkinson’s—
tremor, rigidity and bradykinesia—and
provides the most “bang for the buck,”
with the best ratio of benefits to side
effects.
It is well known that levodopa
dramatically improves the longevity,
function and quality of life of
Parkinson’s patients. Prior to the routine
use of levodopa, only 46 percent of
people survived longer than 10 years
with Parkinson’s. After 1974 that figure
increased to 78 percent (compared to
83 percent in the general population).
One study showed that the average
Parkinson’s patient diagnosed at age 64
will live to 85 if he or she responds to
levodopa. The drug has revolutionized
the treatment of Parkinson’s in a way
few other medications have changed
the history of a neurologic disease.
So why is it so many people are
afraid to start levodopa or purposefully
take less than the recommended dose?
4
Following is a partial list of common reasons patients give me for
avoiding levodopa. Many of them
concern side effects that can be managed. Many of them are based on
misleading information from the
Internet, or more personal, philosophical beliefs.
My hope is to clear up some of the
misconceptions so that more people
can enjoy a better quality of life sooner,
and for longer.
Reason 1: Side effects
“I’ve tried levodopa before and had
terrible side effects.” “Levodopa
made my husband worse.”
All medications have potential side
effects, and levodopa is no exception.
They didn’t name it “sinemet” (sinemesis, or “without vomiting”) by
accident. The reason they put carbidopa
(or benzaseride) with the levodopa in a
combination pill is that levodopa can
cause nausea and carbidopa lessens it.
Levodopa can also cause dizziness
and low blood pressure, sleepiness,
hallucinations and dyskinesia (involuntary wiggling or twisting movements).
Sometimes the side effects seem worse
that the symptoms the drugs were
designed to treat.
However, if you tell your prescriber what side effects you’re having,
most of the time the problem can be
fixed. There are several effective
treatments to lessen each of these side
effects. Examples include taking pills to
counter low blood pressure and
dizziness, taking pills with food or
taking anti-nausea medications temporarily, switching to a different formula
or slower titration of levodopa, treating
an underlying sleep disorder or adding
a stimulant, or decreasing the dose of
other weaker medications that actually
have more side effects.
I explain to patients that, although
dyskinesias are at least in part due to
levodopa, this does not mean levodopa
M A R C H / A P R I L 2 0 1 0 PARKINSON’S POST
is toxic to the brain or causing “acceleration” of the Parkinson’s. It is a side
effect of the levodopa dose being
slightly too high. Dose adjustments or
adding other medications can help
smooth things out.
Reason 2: Misinformation and
misinterpretation
“I’ve read that levodopa stops working
after five years.” “I don’t want to run
out of options.” “I want to save the
big guns for when I really need them.”
I’m not exactly sure where this line
of thinking comes from, but undoubtedly the Internet plays a role. Actually,
the average Parkinson’s patient continues to get benefit from levodopa for
15 to 20 years. And I have seen patients
continue to get benefit for 30 years!
Possibly it is related to the observation that 40 percent of patients on
levodopa will develop dyskinesias after
five years. Possibly it is related to the
observation that the longer people take
levodopa, the more likely they are to
have motor fluctuations, or on-off
periods, dyskinesias and unpredictable
responses to medications.
But is that purely from the
levodopa, or from Parkinson’s itself ?
There is no convincing evidence that
levodopa is toxic to the brain—only
good evidence that levodopa improves
longevity, function and quality of life.
That said, there is a definite connection between use of levodopa and
motor fluctuations, but the connection
is complex. Many people believe there
is something about getting brief,
intermittent pulses of dopamine
(levodopa)—as opposed to having
steady, constant levels of dopamine—
that leads to fluctuating responses. But
this is a separate matter from how long
a person will respond to levodopa.
How many years a person will respond
to levodopa has more to do with how
many dopamine-producing cells remain
> CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
in the brainstem to convert the
levodopa to dopamine, and how intact
the brain pathways are.
Some people wrongly infer that
every Sinemet tablet they take now is
currency they won’t have available to
spend later. There is no convincing
evidence that saving levodopa until the
last possible minute does anything but
delay and thereby lessen the time when
a person could be having their best level
of function.
For example, if a person chooses
to delay starting levodopa and sacrifice
their level of activity for five years then
finally start it in year six, they may get
dyskinesias within a year or two anyway
because their Parkinson’s has reached a
certain level. If that same person were
to take levodopa a few years earlier,
With Parkinson’s,
balance is vital
Again, the goal is to find the lowest
effective dose—not sacrificing level of
function or quality of life, but keeping
side effects to a minimum.
Reason 3: Personal philosophy
“I only want to take natural supplements, not artificial chemicals.” “I
don’t want any treatment that just
covers up the symptoms.” “Taking
pills is a sign of weakness/failure,” a
reminder that the disease is progressing.
There is no evidence that taking
“natural” supplements is superior to
taking the chemical levodopa. If
anything, non-FDA-approved supplements are not subjected to the rigorous
testing and standards of quality control
that prescription drugs are. You take
them at your own risk as these supplements may have variable
quality or unpredictable
Levodopa has revolutionized the
interactions with other
treatment of Parkinson’s in a way
drugs, not to mention no
few other drugs have changed the clinically proven benefit.
The Parkinson’s brain
history of a neurologic disease.
is what it is—it continues
to march along whether
that person would enjoy six years of
you treat the symptoms or not. The
better symptom control before devellack of a perfect solution or cure
oping dyskinesias. Also, most
should not mean you don’t try to make
dyskinesias are mild and can improve
the most of the current situation. If a
with medication adjustments.
Type I diabetic does not take insulin
That does not mean one should use because it’s only a symptomatic treatas much levodopa as possible as soon
ment and not a cure, their health will
as possible. People who develop
suffer consequences. If they choose to
Parkinson’s at a younger age may be
take the insulin, they will probably be in
more susceptible to motor fluctuations
better shape when the cure arrives.
and may lessen or delay them by using
You did nothing to deserve being
dopamine agonists (Mirapex or Requip) dealt the hand that is Parkinson’s.
in the beginning, since these drugs are
Accepting the diagnosis does not mean
longer-lasting and associated with a
giving in. Taking pills to control symplower risk of fluctuations.
toms is not a sign of weakness. On the
However, if there comes a time
contrary, it means you have the courage
when that person is having too many
to acknowledge and address a challenge
side effects from dopamine agonists,
head on.
levodopa would offer more symptom
Dr. Ro is a movement disorders specialist
control (though a shorter half life,
and medical director of the Movement
requiring more frequent dosing) and
Disorders Program at Swedish Medical Center
fewer side effects.
in Seattle.
PARKINSON’S
By Stephen Setter, PharmD
and Lindy Wood, PharmD
As pharmacists we are keenly aware of
the medication “balancing act” for
Parkinson’s patients who need to take
drugs to treat other health conditions.
Parkinson’s is usually the No. 1
priority, but sometimes it has to take a
back seat when it comes to the medications you need for other conditions.
This is because everything works
together, and what you do to treat one
condition may affect the other.
But Parkinson’s is all about performing balancing acts, as most patients
are well aware. Another balancing act is
managing to maintain a positive mental
attitude, eat right and exercise—that
four-letter word we all need to be using
more as we age.
Many people with Parkinson’s find
that journaling helps them keep a
healthy perspective, and that documenting the little joys that occur on a daily
basis helps them balance the more
trying moments.
Some people with Parkinson’s keep
a detailed “diary” of how they respond
to their various medications or other
events in their lives. In fact, we have
worked with patients who monitor
their responses throughout the day on a
daily basis. This kind of record can be
useful in the days or weeks leading up
to a medical appointment, as it allows
your physician or therapist to see how
you’ve been doing over time.
Like you, we hope the cure for
Parkinson’s is on the horizon. In the
meantime it’s important to live each
day—though we recognize that some
days are more challenging than others.
In our work we regularly encounter
people so desperate for a cure, they
latch on to every new fad, supplement
and drug they can obtain. This is often
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5
T R I B U T E
G I F T S
Gifts to the Northwest
Parkinson’s Foundation support
our educational publications and
self-care tools, including the
Parkinson’s Post newsletter, weekly emails news
updates, a content-rich website, patient-education
programs and the annual HOPE Conference on
Parkinson’s.
In addition to sustaining our existing programs, your thoughtful donations also support our
efforts to develop and implement innovative new
programs that respond to the changing needs of
the Parkinson’s community. We are privileged that so many in
the Northwest Parkinson’s Foundation family support our
mission by giving generously throughout the year.
In each issue we list contributions made in honor or
memory of loved ones touched by Parkinson’s. Those
wishing to establish a permanent memorial may create a
family fund with a minimum donation of $2,500, either
from a single gift or many. These funds and their donors are
listed permanently on the donations page of our website.
Contact Keri Kellerman at 877.980.7500 or keri@nwpf.org
to learn more.
Listed here are those who made tribute or family fund
gifts from January 7 to February 17, 2010.
Barbara Denson
Lee Denson
Lee Ray Miller
Rose Muller
Alvord Medical Director Fund
in Honor of Roger Evans
Sidney Flamzbaum
Mr. & Mrs. William J. Feldman
John Shaw
Marcia A. Porter
Mary A. Mitchell Memorial Fund
Jack Gilroy
Mr. & Mrs. Josef C. Afanador
The Carey Family
Mr. & Mrs. Robert Czumbil
Mr. & Mrs. Daniel G. Evanko Sr.
M. William Evanko
Margaret M. Haggerty
Mr. & Mrs. Hal Newsom
Robert Shinn
Mr. & Mrs. Ronald Baldus
FAMILY FUNDS*
Margaret (Martie) Philbrick
Family Fund
Tina Bell Torrance Family Fund
* Visit the Northwest Parkinson’s
Foundation website for a list of alltime donors to these funds.
I N
M E M O R Y
Arthur Allen
Anne Wilson Allen
David Anderson
Mr. & Mrs. Paul W. Brandstetter
Mr. & Mrs. Owen E. Clark
Murray Gaevert
Mr. & Mrs. Jesse M. Grigsby
Joan E. King
Marian M. Nelson
Mr. & Mrs. Ivor A. Satero
Mr. & Mrs. Todd D. Smith
SRA International Corporation
Mr. & Mrs. Robert Story
Mr. & Mrs. James J. Von Lossow
Nancy B. Wooldridge
Salvatore Giusti
Joan M. Giusti, DDS
Stanley Heinrich
Mr. & Mrs. Darrel W. Amundsen
Gordon Anthony
Mr. & Mrs. Frank H. Cratsenberg
Barbara Heinrich
Mr. & Mrs. Ray O. Jacot
Mr. & Mrs. Joseph V. Scott
Janice Vander Stoep
Ben Hemmelfarb
Alice M. Schleifer
Gary Johanson
Mr. & Mrs. Marshall L. Lind
Charles Longstreth
Diane Longstreth
Charles Block
Joan K. LaPedis
Gladys Maxim
Mr. & Mrs. Thomas J. Driscoll
Lorraine Molzahn
Mr. & Mrs. John T. Shold
Mr. & Mrs. Robert E. Sproul
Hubert Christianson
Donna L. Christianson
Manford McNeil
Meribah Smith
Margaret Clift
James P. Clift
6
M A R C H / A P R I L 2 0 1 0 PARKINSON’S POST
Carol Ann Wurts
Mr. & Mrs. Ray Baalman Jr.
Daniel Brewer
Corp. of the Catholic
Archbishop of Seattle
Mark Dawson
Mr. & Mrs. Michael R. Galvin
Mr. & Mrs. Michael D. Garvey
John V. Granahan
Mr. & Mrs. Joshua Green III
Mr. & Mrs. Rob Hamel
Mr. & Mrs. Robert J. Hilton
Mr. & Mrs. Peter D. Hocson
Mr. & Mrs. Richard P. Hollyer
Linda M. Kelly
Patricia M. Legos
Madison Square Investor LLC
McMorgan & Company
Mr. & Mrs. Lee A. Miller
Ellan J. Nelson
Eriann Pearson
Quest Investment Management Inc.
Rainier Investment Management
Jim Ridgeway
Smart Portfolios LLC
Mr. & Mrs. Paul Stephanus
Ronald R. Sternal
Welfare and Pension
Admin Services Inc.
Wells Fargo Consultant Relations
Ms. Joan C. Westover
Mr. & Mrs. F. Tomlinson White Jr.
Lavonne W. Wurts
Wurts & Associates Inc.
I N
H O N O R
William Binger
Daniel L. & Sandra Burkhead
Michelle Conroy
Nancy Jane Darboven
Barbara Eastman
Mr. & Mrs. David B. George
Mr. & Mrs. Thomas H. Henderson Jr.
Mr. & Mrs. Clifford O’Donner
Elizabeth C. O’Reilly
Mr. & Mrs. Douglas S. Tharp
Ruth C. Tobacco
John J. Vierthaler
Mr. & Mrs. William J. Waterhouse Jr.
Mr. & Mrs. Grant R. Wilcox
The Cox/Ryan Family
The William R. Gruver Foundation
Joseph Lewis
Delores M. Lewis
Melvin Light
Elizabeth Light
Isabelle Losvar
Al Losvar
Theodora Lyons
Shana E. Wendorf
Marcie Sewell
M. Laverne Sewell
Team Parkinson’s
Joanie Diemert
T
Gifts sought for
‘My Wellness’
By Bill Bell
Spring brings with it the promise of
hope and renewal, and we are reminded that, if there’s ever a good time
to have Parkinson’s, this is it.
These days, we know so much
more. We know that Parkinson’s
specialists are worth their weight in
gold, that their expertise really can make
a difference to a person’s quality of life.
That’s why the Northwest Parkinson’s
Foundation sparked the launch of the
Booth Gardner Parkinson’s Care
Center, and it’s why we encourage
patients to seek specialty care wherever
they live. We know that medicines are
improving each year and that many
others will be available over time. We
know exercise plays a large part in
quality of life, enabling people with
Parkinson’s to remain active for
longer—and so we regularly feature
inspiring stories in our publications
about the power of exercise.
We also know it’s the support of a
larger Parkinson’s community that
buoys the spirits of so many people
with Parkinson’s and their caregivers.
Increasingly this community includes
not only the people who connect with
each other at support groups, patient
education programs or conferences, but
also the tens of thousands of people
who connect with each other online.
Our website now receives more than
30,000 unique visitors each month from
152 countries, including remote locales
where access to specialized care for
people with Parkinson’s is limited or
unavailable.
That is why we are so excited
about our new online Wellness Center.
The center, which lives on our website,
is a virtual community focused on
hope, healing and wellness for all who
H
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P
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are touched by Parkinson’s.
Launched last fall under the direction of Monique Giroux, M.D.,
medical director of the Northwest
Parkinson’s Foundation and the Booth
Gardner Parkinson’s Care Center, the
center will be updated monthly with
fresh content.
While medication management and
specialized care are key parts of
treatment for Parkinson’s, our goal with
the Wellness Center is to broaden the
discussion and include information and
resources that also support the mind,
body and spirit.
To support this goal, the center
features modules on Physical Health,
Cognition and Emotion, Personal
Healing, Home and Away, Care Partners, Motivation and Inspiration, and
My Wellness, a section in which people
with Parkinson’s will soon be able to set
and track their personal wellness goals.
To make the My Wellness section
truly interactive, we need to add some
behind-the-scenes features to our
website. These features cost $50,000 to
develop and implement, and we have
already received $25,000 toward our
goal thanks to educational grants from
several community partners.
You can help us bridge the gap by
making a gift to the Northwest
Parkinson’s Foundation today to help
complete the My Wellness section. Your
contribution will have a direct and
meaningful impact on the 30,000
people from the Northwest and
beyond who visit our website each
month. That’s more than 1,000 people
with Parkinson’s and their family
members each day that your gift will
help support.
Thank you for considering a gift to
help build an even stronger and more
vibrant community for all who are
living with Parkinson’s. Together we can
reach this challenging goal.
Bill Bell is executive director of the
Northwest Parkinson’s Foundation.
PARKINSON’S
E
Join the team,
make a difference
Do you read about Team Parkinson’s
each year? Have you ever considered
joining? By joining the team, you’ll
inspire hope, promote wellness and
support the best possible quality of life
for people with Parkinson’s. And you
know exercise is good for you, right?
Now in its ninth year, the team has
raised nearly $1 million and inspired
more than 1,500 people to walk, bike,
hike and run to support the cause. This
year’s goal is 100 riders and $120,000.
Being a Team Parkinson’s member
is easier than you might think. Here are
a few steps to get you started.
Choose your goal. You can take
part in an organized athletic event or do
your own thing. The Group Health
Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic (STP)
is the most popular choice among our
team members. But plenty of people
get creative. You might pledge to
complete 200 miles over 60 days on a
stationary bike or a set number of laps
in the pool each day for 30 days. The
choice is yours.
Start recruiting supporters. Each
team member commits to raising at
least $300. We provide you with a
personal donation webpage and the tips
and tricks to help you reach your goal.
Get training. That part’s on you!
Members receive special benefits,
including a team jersey, access to an
online community of team members,
and the satisfaction that comes from
supporting the Parkinson’s community.
Those who participate in the STP will
also receive “extras” along the route—
including free bike repairs, a catered
lunch, chair massages and more.
Visit nwpf.org today or call
877.980.7500 to learn more about how
you can become a member of Team
Parkinson’s 2010.
POST
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PERMIT NO. 02443
NORTHWEST PARKINSON’S
FOUNDATION
Suite 504
400 Mercer Street
Seattle, WA 98109-4641
877.980.7500
nwpf.org
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The Northwest Parkinson’s Foundation is a cofounder and partner of the
Booth Gardner Parkinson’s Care Center. This comprehensive care facility
is home to physicians, neuropsychologists, physical and occupational
therapists, and speech pathologists, all specialists in Parkinson’s. To make an
appointment, call 425.899.3123.
Directors
Elizabeth Bacher
William Benfield, Ph.D.
Steve Boone
Malinda Cox
Gov. Booth Gardner
Karen A. Hadley
Richard Hadley
Craig Howard
Bill Johanson
David Likosky, M.D.
Matt Ramerman
Paula Rose
Tom Ryan
Robert E. Story
Directors Emeritus
Gov. Daniel J. Evans
Nancy Evans
Arthur Harrigan Jr.
Lyman Hull
Hal Newsom
Priscilla Tanase
8
Executive Director
Bill Bell
Medical Director
Monique L. Giroux, M.D.
Administrator
Elizabeth Pelham
Development Director
Keri Kellerman
Program Director
Alecha Newbern
Newsletter content copyright Northwest
Parkinson’s Foundation 2010. Permission for use
of most materials presented in the Parkinson’s
Post is available by contacting the Northwest
Parkinson’s Foundation.
M A R C H / A P R I L 2 0 1 0 PARKINSON’S POST
> FROM PAGE 5
to their detriment, health-wise and financially.
Our best advice is to stick with the tried
and true while keeping an open mind. Keep an
eye out for new breakthroughs, but don’t
succumb to unproven or suspicious therapies
or supplements. “Above all, do no harm” is the
bottom line in medicine—and by this, we mean
potential harm to yourself by using unproven
therapies, not to mention the harm to your
pocketbook.
As of today, we know that responsible use
of proven medications and supplements,
regular exercise and a sound diet are all critically
important in managing Parkinson’s. All three can
also contribute to a sound mind. Balance these
healthful practices with positive social interactions from day to day and you’ll be doing the
very best you can for your body and soul.
Dr. Setter is an associate professor of pharmacotherapy at Washington State University. Dr. Wood is a
resident in geriatrics with the Department of Pharmacotherapy and Elder Services at WSU.