April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month

The Parkinson’s Education and Support Group of Sussex County reminds the community that April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month.

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological disease that affects the part of the brain that controls muscle movement.

Currently, there is no definitive clinical test for diagnosing Parkinson’s, and many individuals experience symptoms for several years before receiving a diagnosis. Symptoms vary from person to person but can include tremors, rigidity, slow movement and gait, poor balance, soft talking, a loss of sense of smell, small handwriting, cognitive impairment, difficulty swallowing, and frozen facial expression.

The Parkinson’s Education and Support Group of Sussex County provides people with Parkinson’s and their caregivers with knowledge and tools to help combat the disease. At monthly support group meetings, guest speakers address therapy and exercise, medications for Parkinson’s, maintaining quality of life and other related topics.

In addition to the monthly support group meetings, members facilitate three small-group meetings each month in Seaford, Ocean View and Milford. Members facilitate a monthly caregivers meeting as well as a meeting open only to people with Parkinson’s. Several varied social events and fundraising opportunities are also held throughout the year.

One of the primary goals of the group is to raise public awareness through education. To accomplish this, the group conducts seminars and programs designed to educate local community members and health professionals, ultimately leading to a more positive experience for a person with Parkinson’s disease who is hospitalized or receiving some sort of medical treatment. Many doctors are recommending that, upon diagnosis, a person with Parkinson’s should attend physical therapy, followed by an exercise regimen designed to help with the slow gait, muscle rigidity and other symptoms associated with the disease. The group currently sponsors 13 weekly exercise classes specifically designed for people with Parkinson’s and other movement disorders. Classes are offered in Rehoboth Beach, Georgetown, Ocean View and Long Neck.

During this time of stay-at-home orders and social distancing, the support group is offering a daily exercise class via an online meeting app. Members join the virtual classroom to participate in exercise classes designed to keep them moving. The group has also begun to offer weekly discussions and educational talks, using a format much like that used for their regularly scheduled meetings and discussion groups. In addition to keeping members active and informed, the online format is helping them battle the fears and isolation that many people with Parkinson’s face.

Like so many other nonprofit groups, the support group has had to reschedule its spring expo and has suspended fundraising events.

For more information or to donate, go to www.sussexdeparkinsons.com.