Upcoming wellness expo, events to raise awareness for Parkinson's Disease

April is recognized nationally as Parkinson’s Awareness Month, and it's a time dedicated to raising awareness about the degenerative neurological and movement disorder that can cause deterioration of motor skills, balance, speech and sensory function.

Awareness is key when it comes to the management of this condition as well as understanding the resources that are available locally.

On April 23 from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m., a Wellness Expo for Parkinson’s Awareness will take place at the Annenberg Health Sciences Building at the Eisenhower Health campus in Rancho Mirage.

The following local resources from Parkinson’s support groups, movement disorder specialists, speech therapists, and music-based Arts in Healthcare instructors will be on hand.

ACV Parkinson’s Support Group is a proactive support group for people living with Parkinson’s, patients, care partners and loved ones. The group is affiliated with Alzheimer’s Coachella Valley (ACV) and is facilitated by Dee Wieringa, Donald Beck and Larry Bye. It provides emotional support, practical advice, and insights on managing Parkinson’s disease in a safe, confidential and judgement-free environment. cvalzheimers.org

SongShine is a music-based Arts in Healthcare program for those challenged by neurological disorders or aging voices. It is the only program of its kind serving the Coachella Valley. SongShine classes focus on full conscious breathing, body alignment, diction articulation, creative imagination, singing exercises, songs and role play. The program is taught by Dr. Ruthanna Metzgar and actor Peter Harris. songshineforparkinsons.org

Dr. Neal Hermanowicz, FAAN is Board Certified in neurology and is fellowship trained in movement disorders. He has more than 39 years of experience in the medical field of Parkinson’s and movement disorders and has authored and co-authored numerous articles on the topics.

Dr. John Legge is also Board Certified in neurology and fellowship trained in movement disorders. His growing practice for the Parkinson’s community in the Coachella Valley is motivated by his passion to provide quality and comprehensive care to his patients.

Lisa Manning is a certified cardiovascular technologist and exercise specialist. Her work focuses on movement disorders, and she conducts Eisenhower Health’s PD in Motion, which incorporates exercise that focuses on maintaining motor function, increasing muscle strength and improving balance, posture and gait.

Lauren Rein, MS, CFY-SLP, is with Speak Out!, an evidenced-based program for individuals with Parkinson's Disease that was developed by the Parkinson’s Voice Project. The program focuses on regaining and maintaining speaking abilities. It emphasizes speaking with intent and converting speech from an automatic function to an intentional act.

LSVT Big is an intensive, amplitude focused physical and occupational therapy approach. LSVT Loud is the first speech treatment with level 1 evidence and established efficacy for treating voice and speech disorders in people with Parkinson’s Disease.

For more information on the wellness expo or to register for the event, visit cvalzheimers.org at call (760) 776-3100.

Elsewhere in the Coachalla Valley, Parkinson’s Resource Organization (PRO), which is now under new leadership, also has events planned to raise awareness and celebrate the Parkinson’s community here in Coachella Valley and across the nation.

“Every year we look forward to celebrating our amazing Parkinson’s community and increasing our public visibility to call attention to the fastest growing neurological condition in the world,” says Eileen Lynch, PRO’s new executive director and former director of operations, who took the reins when founder and President Jo Rosen retired from her role after 34 years.“This is a crucial multi-prong effort to raise awareness, gather as a community, and raise funds to support PRO’s completely free emotional and practical resources for people with Parkinson’s and caregivers. As we transition to a new era for PRO, we wanted to present a bold and energetic lineup while holding onto the qualities that make Parkinson’s Resource Organization such a gem. Education, hope, encouragement, and support are at the core of everything we do for people with Parkinson’s and caregivers.”

The organization planned four events: The Second Annual Chocolate & Champagne Soirée & Silent Auction will take place April 10 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Boozehounds Palm Springs and the Third Annual PRO on the Move: Walk, Ride or Roll will be held April 27. Charity Bingo at the Barracks was held April 6, and an educational lecture series, The ABCs of Parkinson’s Disease, was held April 3.

For more information, call (760) 773-5628 or visit parkinsonsresource.org.