Support group, exercise program help Parkinson's patients

• By Martha Garcia    August 7, 2017

Paula Skeen, center, participates in the Parkinson's and Exercise class at the Two Rivers YMCA in Moline. With her are Jennifer Taylor, healthy living coordinator at the Y, and Laura Burrill, exercise specialist.

A canceled water aerobics class recently led to me and a group of friends sharing coffee and learning about each other.

I was really moved by the story told by Marilyn Woelke of Bettendorf. I've been swimming with her for three years, but didn't really know her. During our chat, I was intrigued by her passion to help others by starting support groups for caregivers dealing with people who have Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.

That passion wasn't sparked by a personal connection. “I have no family members with the disease,” she said.

The former high school English teacher and former editor of the Geneseo Republic went back to school to become a gerontologist. She worked for the Moline programs Alternatives for the Older Adult for 14 years and Intouch Adult Day Center for six years.

“During those 20 years, I came in contact with several wonderful people and their caregivers who deal with Parkinson's disease,” she said. “It is a difficult disease to understand, and there is no cure. Support groups are a valuable resource for them.”

Parkinson’s disease is a chronic and progressive neurological disorder that gradually damages the brain. Symptoms of the disease include shaking, tremors, muscle stiffness and slowness. As the disease progresses, cognitive and behavioral problems occur.

As a gerontologist and certified dementia specialist, Ms. Woelke leads two support groups, one for Alzheimer's disease and one for Lewy body dementia, which is closely related to Parkinson’s.

Last year, she was asked by people at Active Day of Moline, a senior day-care center, to also start a Parkinson's group. “I know how much support groups can help people, especially family caregivers, so I accepted the challenge,” she said. "The group remains small, and therefore I am doing a special boost right now to increase its size.”

Marilyn connected with Jennifer Taylor, healthy lifestyles coordinator for Two Rivers YMCA in Moline, to spread the word on the importance of Parkinson’s support groups and programs like the new Parkinson’s and Exercise program at Two Rivers YMCA. 

The program is designed to empower people with Parkinson’s disease by optimizing their physical functions and helping to delay the progression of symptoms. Jennifer said research in the area of Parkinson’s disease indicates that exercise has been shown to improve self-confidence and independence, decrease the risk of falls, minimize fatigue, reduce rigidity and improve mobility.

“The Parkinson’s and Exercise program is geared specifically to counteract the movement challenges experienced by people with Parkinson’s,” Jennifer said. “Individuals with other neurological conditions are also welcome to join the class.”

Classes meet monthly and participants may join at any time.

Jennifer said she hopes to work with Marilyn to increase awareness of the disease. Both women hope to increase participation in the exercise program and support groups. Jennifer will be a speaker at the October meeting of the Western Illinois Parkinson's Support Group.

Martha Garcia is a writer, communications instructor and bilingual marketing professional who lives in Bettendorf. She can be contacted at marthagarciawriter@yahoo.com.

http://www.qconline.com/life/support-group-exercise-program-help-parkinson-s-patients/article_288b36a9-03b1-5c2d-aa0f-c2fe720340cc.html