Parkinson Disease Symposium Oct. 13

Sept. 1, 2016

Therapists Sara Edlebeck, left, and Ashley

IRON MOUNTAIN - The Parkinson Society of Dickinson County, a support group for Parkinson Disease patients, caregivers, family and friends, will host a Parkinson Disease Symposium "Living With Parkinson's Disease" on Oct. 13, at the First Presbyterian Church in Kingsford.

The symposium will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with a free lunch break at noon.

Speakers at this symposium include Dr. Patti Peterson, local neurologist, speaking on "Problems that PD patients have that are not motor, and the differential of diagnosis."

Also presenting at this program is Sara Krueger of Royal Oak, Mich., speaking on "Getting to Know Duopa."

The keynote speaker comes from Lubbock, Texas, Jo Bidwell, giving her morning talk on "Understanding Parkinson's Disease." Then, doing a working lunch, Bidwell will have a question and answer time as well as presenting "What's New and Coming in the Future for PD Patients." Her afternoon presentation will be geared toward caregivers, "Caring for the Caregivers."

Bidwell has a bachelor of science degree in counseling and a M.ED. in health education. She was the information and referral coordinator for the Lubbock office of the American Parkinson's Disease Association (APDA) for 17 years, and for the last two years has been the director fo Southwest Parkinson Society, covering large portion of Texas and New Mexico. She has taught nutrition and has been the neurology educator for Covenant Health System,w hile doing the APDA job. She has a very large Parkinson Disease family encompassing a large portion of Texas and New Mexico.

Invitations have been extended to PD patients through the U.P. and Northern Wisconsin through their local support groups in Calumet, Negaunee and Marquette County, Escanaba, Ironwood, Newberry and including the Dickinson County area. It is not necessary to belong to a support group to attend. Any Parkinson Disease patient that is interested may attend.

Displays and personnel from health related agencies will be available to provide information and material of interest to attendees. A light continental breakfast will be available upon arrival and a more substantial lunch will be provided free of charge at noon. This is due to the group sponsors.

Registration must be made by Oct. 6, by calling Claire Kennedy at 906-295-0898 or Pauline Hill at 906-774-0332. Persons can also mail registrations to Claire Kennedy at P.O. Box 126, Hermansville, MI 49847.

Walk-ins may be accommodated, depending on space and amount of food.

"Understanding that the day may be long and tiring for some, a quiet room will be available for those who may need a little break for rest time during the day," said Hill symposium coordinator.

Persons may also contact Hill for more information on the symposium. The church is located on Hamilton Avenue in Kingsford.

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