Resources and Support Groups
A number of resources and support services are available for those dealing with Parkinson's disease. Click on the following links to learn more about online resources, professional education opportunities, support groups, counseling and specialty support groups.
Online Resources
For those wishing to learn more about Parkinson's disease, the following online resources will be of assistance.
Professional Education
Penn Medicine is committed to educating health professionals about Parkinson’s disease. We offer in-services to nursing home staff and other providers that care for people with PD. For more information or to request an in-service, contact Julie Stutzbach (julie.stutzbach@uphs.upenn.edu, 215-829-7651) or Christin Salemno (christin.salemno@uphs.upenn.edu, 215-829-2347).
Support Groups
Support groups provide assistance for Parkinson’s patients and their caregivers in Philadelphia and the surrounding area. Special support groups serve those with specific needs such as men, people that have had DBS, carepartners, early-onset PD, those that speak primarily Mandarin and Cantonese. There are three new support groups: a group for women with PD, one for persons affected by parkinsonisms, and a support group serving West Philadelphia. For a complete list of support groups from the Parkinson’s Council please refer to http://www.theparkinsoncouncil.org/support-groups.html. To find support groups in the Pennsylvania-New Jersey-Delaware region, click here.
A support group is a way for people to help each other cope with a problem that they all share. Support groups are not just for patients. Many groups are available for care partners or caregivers, family members of patients and friends. Members give and receive information and encouragement through email/mail, phone calls and group meetings. Most groups meet monthly.
Counseling
Penn Medicine offers a free counseling service for people dealing with movement disorders, including individual counseling, couples and family counseling, and counseling for caregivers. Our staff consist of a PhD psychologist and master’s level therapist who have specific training in counseling people with chronic illness as well as an intimate knowledge of Parkinson’s disease. Sessions are held by appointment at the PDMDC, 330 S 9th St. Call 215-829-6688 and leave your name, the name of your referring physician, and a number where you can be reached to make an appointment.
Speciality Support Groups
Speciality support groups exist for other movement disorders and for special Parkinson's groups.
Here is a partial list of support groups for movement disorders other than Parkinson's:
- Huntington's Disease Society
- Phone 610-277-1066; call for information on when this group meets
- Dystonia Medical Research Foundation
- at Paoli Memorial Hospital; contact Art Hindle at 610-459-2242 for dates and times of group meetings
- Lewy Body Dementia (Susquehanna Valley)
- at
St. Peter's Lutheran Church; contact Kim Lemon at 717-572-9908 or kim.kitten.lemon@gmail.com
Meets: 1st Tuesday of every other month
- at
St. Peter's Lutheran Church; contact Kim Lemon at 717-572-9908 or kim.kitten.lemon@gmail.com
- Lewy Body Dementia Caregivers Online Support Group
- This group provides support and information for Lewy Body Dementia caregivers. Click to join.
- Essential Tremor
- meets the 2nd Tuesday of every other month at 10AM at Pennsylvania Hospital's Hall Mercer Building - 245 South 8th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107 (on 8th Street between Locust and Spruce, across from a big white church) in the multipurpose room. The contact is Julie Stutzbach (julie.stutzbach@uphs.upenn.edu or 215-829-7651).
- also meets the 1st Saturday, every other month at St. George Senior Housing; contact via email myrnluvya70@gmail.com and please note ET in subject line. Or contact Julie Stutzbach at 215-829-7651.
- meets the 2nd Tuesday of every other month at 10AM at Pennsylvania Hospital's Hall Mercer Building - 245 South 8th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107 (on 8th Street between Locust and Spruce, across from a big white church) in the multipurpose room. The contact is Julie Stutzbach (julie.stutzbach@uphs.upenn.edu or 215-829-7651).
- Parkinson Plus Group
- meets at the Hall Mercer building. Contact Christin Salemno (christin.salemno@uphs.upenn.edu or 215-829-2347) for dates and times.
Here is a listing of speciality Parkinson's disease support groups:
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