Parkinson’s Disease
A QUALITY OF LIFE ENHANCEMENT MISSION:
Did you know that in North America 1.5% to 2% of the population over 60 years old will suffer from Parkinson’s Disease? More than Multiple Sclerosis, Muscular Dystrophy, and ALS combined? The South Georgian Bay (SGB) population is growing rapidly and its demographics are aging as it grows. In this decade, Persons with Parkinson’s (PWP) in SGB will at least double!
In 2019, several team members at MVMT Fitness & Performance, as well as other volunteers from the south Georgian bay area, came together to form ‘Living Better with Parkinson’s’. Living Better is a community based collective of volunteers, which include some people with Parkinson’s, some people whose loved ones have Parkinson’s, and other people who are just willing to help!
Some of Living Better with Parkinson’s fitness programs are run at MVMT, as well as other locations within South Georgian Bay.
The Sensory Attention Focused (SAFEx) fitness program
The team at MVMT Fitness & Performance, along with a number of volunteers from the South Georgian Bay community, raised $35,000 to run a pilot SAFEx fitness program for people with Parkinson’s.
In the fall of 2019, fifteen people with Parkinson’s participated at The Centre in a 13 week / 3x per week SAFEx program. This was the first time the program had been run outside of a clinical setting (Wilfrid Laurier University’s Movement Disorders and Rehabilitation Centre)
MVMT provided the facilities, personal trainers, program development, and financial management advice needed to run this program.
Clinical trials have proven that PD SAFEx participants, whether or not they are using Parkinson’s drugs, have reduced the symptoms and slowed the progression beyond traditional drug therapy and other exercise options. Results proved to be outstanding and helped demonstrate the efficacy of a fitness approach to improve quality of life for people with Parkinson’s.
Parkinson’s Resources
Resources to help people with Parkinson’s
Three organizations provide superb support for people with PD and their families: Parkinson Canada, Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s , and Davis Phinney Foundation for Parkinson’s.
Helpful resources:
Canadian Guideline for Parkinson Disease, 2nd Edition:
Act On Time ™ – Managing My Parkinson’s Disease in Health Care Settings
Act On Time ™ – other resources
Plan to order Every Victory Counts “Essential Information and Inspiration for a Lifetime of Wellness with Parkinson’s Disease.”
Parkinson Canada
Literature available and staff to talk to:
www.parkinson.ca 1-800-565-3000
Sandie Jones/Information & Referral Associate (personal contact)
Local PD Support Groups
Wasaga Beach: Visit website
2nd Thursday of the month @ 3:45 pm
2275 Klondike Park Rd, Wasaga Beach ON L9Z 2W9
Contact: info@parkinson.ca
Collingwood: Visit website
2nd Tuesday of the month 1:30 – 3:30 pm
Fung Loy Kok Taoist Tai Chi Centre
58 George St., Collingwood
Contact: Heather: 705-445-1623 hebsey@gmail.com
Exercise programs at MVMT
Tai Chi class, 5.30 pm on Mondays, 9.00 am on Thursdays
Yoga class, 9.30 am on Sunday mornings
Personal Fitness Training, contact us to find out more
Move free dance classes, contact Louise Stewart-Potts
Davis Phinney Foundation
Facebook
Videos, podcasts, supports & programs, Victory Summits, free resource book, Growling Beaver fundraiser here in Collingwood
Link for resource book Every Victory Counts
Books: Always Looking Up, Michael J. Fox
Brain Storms, Jon Palfreman
Say That Again, Jane Cullen
Speech therapist
Toni Blanchard, Collingwood Speech Therapy: 705-441-6691 Visit website
Additional exercise programs
VON SMART exercise program: Nicole Loudran 705-355-2200 Visit website
Sarah Robichaud’s Dance With Parkinson’s online classes via Zoom offered daily. Just register and they are free.
Michael J. Fox Foundation
Michael J. Fox Foundation Facebook (Videos, podcasts, research, advocacy updates)
Fox Insight
(Patient-based online clinical studies)
The Georgian Bay Family Health Team
(705-444-5885) consists of family doctors, social workers, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and psychotherapists to name a few. If your family doctor is a member of this team he or she can make a referral for any of these support services.
Physiotherapist, Occupational therapist, Social worker, Counselling, Kinesiologist, Psychotherapist, Speech therapy, Massage Therapy , Dr. Rasmay: sleep disorders, Dr. Barbara Connolly: neurologist/movement disorders specialist
(LSVT)
Lee Silverman voice training via Skype: four week program $500.Also the Lee Silverman BIG exercise program.
Visit the LSVT website
“Parkinson’s doesn’t reach every part of my life, there are losses. But there are equivalent gains, whether it’s an insight or experience or exposure to people that I wouldn’t otherwise meet. I’ve been incredibly privileged to see progress being made.” – Michael J Fox