Parkinson’s Community Outreach
The UNC Movement Disorders Center team initiated North Carolina’s Moving Day event in 2013, and has continued to play an active role in its organization ever since.
We hope you can join us for the event next fall! For more information, please visit the Moving Day® website at www.movingdaynctriangle.org.
The Interdisciplinary Parkinson’s Disease Clinic meets on the fourth Tuesday of each month. The clinic is a half-day evaluation where PD patients receive full assessments from neurology, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and social work. The team meets to develop a comprehensive plan of treatment recommendations and referrals for each patient and provides assistance in arranging therapies and additional consultations. For more information, please contact the center coordinator, Maggie Ivancic, MSW, LCSW, at (919)-843-2777 or mivancic@neurology.unc.edu.
Aware that people with Parkinson’s receive the highest quality of care and have the best health outcomes when they work with clinicians who are knowledgeable about this complex disease, the UNC Movement Disorders Center established www.ParkNC.org, a growing referral network for allied health clinicians (physical therapists, speech therapists, psychiatrists) who have received specialized training in Parkinson’s disease. ParkNC also lists NC’s movement disorder specialists and PD support groups.
- Chapel Hill Parkinson’s Support Group: Meets the first Tuesday of each month at the Seymour Senior Center at 2551 Homestead Road. A split group meets for open discussion from 12:30-1:30pm with care partners in one room and people with PD in another, and then a full group for either a presentation or a discussion on a specific topic meets from 1:30-3:00pm. You are welcome to attend either or both parts. Visit www.chapelhillparkinsons.weebly.com to learn more.
- Progressive Supranuclear Palsy Support Group: Meets the first Wednesday of each month from 1:30-3:00pm, at the St. Thomas Moore Catholic Church located at 940 Carmichael Street, Chapel Hill (in the parish building on the left in the St. Martin room). People affected by multiple system atrophy and corticobasal degeneration are also welcome to join. This group is offered in partnership with CurePSP.
- Colloquium on Interdisciplinary Care for Parkinson’s: We offer this one-day training on Parkinson’s in various areas of North Carolina about once per year. Physicians, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, and rehabilitation administrators are invited. The goal is to enhance quality of care for people with Parkinson’s across the state.
- In-services: We are available to do brief presentations on Parkinson’s care for audiences such as long-term care communities and in-home care agencies.
We host multiple educational seminars each year for the Parkinson’s community, varying which one we offer annually. Past seminars have included:
- PD 101: This is an educational program for individuals with early-stage Parkinson’s disease and their family members. It offers an overview of Parkinson’s symptoms, treatment options, and coping challenges around being diagnosed with Parkinson’s.
- PD 201: This is an educational program for individuals with mid-stage Parkinson’s disease and their family members. Participants hear about common symptoms experienced by people who have had Parkinson’s for a few years, as well as treatment options and common coping challenges at this point in the disease.
- PD 301: This is an educational program for individuals with advanced Parkinson’s disease and their family members. Participants hear an overview of symptoms and treatments in advanced Parkinson’s as well as presentations on equipment needs, speech and swallowing treatments, the spectrum of long-term care options, hospice care, and coping strategies.
- Changing Roles and Relationships for Parkinson’s Couples: This educational program is for couples where one person has Parkinson’s. During this event we address challenging symptoms for couples, sex and intimacy, communication, staying connected, and adapting to changing roles.
- Parkinson’s Empowerment Symposium: This is a larger educational program we have offered in various areas of North Carolina. We share an overview of symptoms and multidisciplinary treatment options with a focus on how people living with this complex disease can empower themselves with knowledge and meaning.
- Atypical Parkinsonism Family Education Symposium: This program is meant for people affected by progressive supranuclear palsy, multiple systems atrophy, and corticobasal degeneration. It is offered in partnership with CurePSP, and addresses symptoms, treatment options, clinical trials, coping and care-giving.
- Beat the Winter Exercises: Fight the cold with new exercises! Exercise is medicine for Parkinson’s. During this hands-on program, participants can learn about boxing, LSVT BIG, Pilates and dance.
- Complementary Therapies: This educational program is for individuals with Parkinson’s disease and their families to learn about complementary and alternative medical techniques such as biofeedback therapy, acupuncture, the Feldenkrais method and music therapy.
To learn more about any of these opportunities, please contact the center coordinator, Maggie Ivancic, MSW, LCSW, at (919)-843-2777 or mivancic@neurology.unc.edu.
All of our programs are offered with support by the Parkinson’s Foundation.