It starts with us
Esther
Do. you remember the TV show from a few years ago called Community? It was about a group of students at a local community college who met in a study group for a class they were all taking. This disparate group of students would never have even met under other circumstances, but over time, they became a community who relied on each other for many things. Not just their time studying together.
When I was diagnosed in 2009, there was no PD community. Not in Los Angeles, where I live. The big organizations provided occasional day-long seminars and lectures. There were few support groups and exercise classes, so little opportunity for us to come together as a cohesive group. But that has changed, at first slowly and then when the Pandemic arrived, very quickly, changing everything in our world as we knew it. One of the first pre-pandemic success stories was Rock Steady Boxing which made getting together with other PwP’s fun. No griping allowed and laughing is encouraged. Making connections with other PwP’s became easier.
Our PD communities today function much like that on the TV show. We began to find a welcoming Parkinson’s community when we went to boxing or dance for PD, all because of our common needs. When the Pandemic hit and everything shut down, we had to find new ways to come together and create our own PD communities. We found other ways to share experiences and support each other. Some are local, some meet virtually on Zoom with participants in many different places. One exceptional concept is a Parkinson’s center that provides all types of classes, lectures, workshop’s, support groups and counseling all in one place. InMotion, in Cleveland, is a prime example of what PwP’s can do to make their own community. Dr. Karen Jaffe, an obstetrician-gynecologist (OB/GYN) diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in 2007, is the driving force behind InMotion. She saw a need and made it happen. Other similar prograns are beginning to pop up in other cities. My hope is that this model will be replicated anywhere there are people with Parkinson’s.
Why Community?
All of the above services give us, people with PD, a group of friends – a community – we can rely on. We can talk to each other about symptoms, medications and anything else in a non-threatening environment. We care about each other. Most importantly, being part of a community keeps loneliness at bay. Recent studies have shown that loneliness is the #1 cause for decline with PD (and many other chronic disases). Doctors are now prescribing social activies for their patients because of the benefits of belonging to a group of like-minded people. Like us! Of course we all know that people with Parkinson’s are the nicest people you will meet. So if you feel isolated and lonely, reach out to your local Parkinson’s community, or one online. They can’t wait for you to join them.
Community as Inspiration
Farrel Levy, a wonderful friend who is active in my PD community, has designed a new t-shirt that focuses not only on symptoms, but also on Community. You can zoom in on the photo to see what she has included. The t-shirt is available for a limited time, ending next week on Giving Tuesday, December 2. Click here to order yours today.
The recording of our Comedy show is also available until December 2. Make a donation of $20 or more to our scholarship grant fund to get the link for the show.
Black Friday
You can also support Twitchy Woman by shopping Amazon’s Black Friday sales.
One suggestion: Bluetooth Tracker
Tired of misplacing your keys? Your dog? Your luggage? There are a lot of choices to meet your needs. Check these out on Amazon’s Black Friday sale. Both iOS and Android Compatible
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
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