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Living Well with Parkinson’s expo held at Cape High

Promoting health, wellness and education for those living with Parkinson’s
Jordan Gambrell, a stretch therapist at Shore Wellness, provides a free 10-minute stretch session to Ernie Gelb during the Parkinson’s Education & Support Group of Sussex County’s annual Living Well with Parkinson’s Expo, held at Cape High on Oct. 11. ELLEN MCINTYRE PHOTOS
Ellen McIntyre
October 28, 2025

The Parkinson’s Education & Support Group of Sussex County hosted its annual Living Well with Parkinson’s expo at Cape High Oct. 11.

The event, which centered around active aging and senior wellness, featured two expert panel discussion hours and more than 40 informative exhibitors.

Panelists included Debi Brooks, co-founder and CEO of the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research; Donna Temple, a physical therapist at Aquacare; Carolyn Trasko, an integrated health specialist at Integrated Mental Health; Michelle Poynton-Marsh, founder and owner of Poynton-Marsh Speech Therapy; Erin Scharp, lead clinical navigator at PAM Health; Derek Russell, education and outreach manager at the Parkinson’s Foundation; Christie Shirey, a caregiver specialist at CHEER and the Community Resource Center; Meagan Sekscinski, an attorney with Procino-Wells & Woodland LLC; and Crystal Baynard, a case manager at the Easterseals Community Outreach Program.

The event gave folks with Parkinson’s and their loved ones access to information and resources regarding home care, rehab, adaptive technology, speech therapy, physical therapy, caregiver support and more.

Panelists spoke about a number of local resources and services for Parkinson’s patients and caregivers, such as the Easterseals respite care and respite voucher programs for caregivers, designed to help families fund respite care to give the caregiver a temporary break; Parkinson’s genetic marker testing through the Parkinson’s Foundation; end-of-life planning and elderly care services and attorneys through firms like Procino-Wells & Woodland LLC; patient and caregiver support groups and activities through CHEER and the Community Outreach Program; a free hospital safety guide through the Parkinson’s Foundation; and more.

Paula Thetford, left, and Nancy McCloskey enjoy the day together.
Several Parkinson’s caretaking and research experts speak and answer questions during one of the discussion panels at the expo. Pictured are (l-r) Donna Temple of Aquacare Physical Therapy, Carolyn Trasko of Integrated Mental Health, Michelle Poynton-Marsh of Poynton-Marsh Speech Therapy, co-founder and CEO Debi Brooks of the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, and Erin Scharp of PAM Health.
The expo gives folks with Parkinson’s and their loved ones an opportunity to learn more about Parkinson’s research, care options and more. Pictured are (l-r) Gary and Mary Presler, co-founder and CEO Debi Brooks of the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, and Dan Presler.
Arlin Berlinger, left, has a conversation with Amy Becker, director of advocacy at the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.
Liz Guida, co-founder of Delaware Hyperbarics, is ready to educate about hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
Representing Shore Wellness at the expo are licensed massage therapists Karyn Jennings, left, and Yolanda McKoy.
Denise Demback asks a question during one of the expert panel discussions. In the row directly behind her is Jon Bartels. Behind him are Daniel McEntire, left, and Susan McEntire.
Anne Hubbard, chief public policy officer at the American Parkinson Disease Association, is stocked with informational resources for attendees.
During one of the panel discussions, Meagan Sekscinski, middle, an attorney with Procino-Wells & Woodland, LLC, speaks about revokable living trusts. On her left is Christie Shirey, a caregiver specialist at CHEER and the Community Resource Center. On her right is Crystal Baynard, a case manager at the Easterseals Community Outreach Program.
Representing the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute are (l-r) Trish Dennison, Roxana Burciu and Bill Dennison.
Derek Russell, middle, education and outreach manager at the Parkinson’s Foundation, speaks about genetic marker testing during a panel. Also pictured are PAM Health’s Erin Scharp, left, and Christie Shirey, a caregiver specialist at CHEER and the Community Resource Center.
At the entrance to the expo is a banner for Parkinson’s awareness.

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Ellen McIntyre is a reporter covering education and all things Dewey Beach. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Penn State - Schreyer Honors College in May 2024, then completed an internship writing for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. In 2023, she covered the Women’s World Cup in New Zealand as a freelancer for the Associated Press and saw her work published by outlets including The Washington Post and Fox Sports. Her variety of reporting experience covers crime and courts, investigations, politics and the arts. As a Hockessin, Delaware native, Ellen is happy to be back in her home state, though she enjoys traveling and learning about new cultures. She also loves live music, reading, hiking and spending time in nature.

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