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| Karen Jaffe |
In Motion, a nonprofit health and wellness resource center for those living with Parkinson’s disease, finds itself in a unique position. It’s one of the only centers dedicated to Parkinson’s disease support and outreach.
Dr. Karen Jaffe, client and co-founder of InMotion, and Ben Rossi, co-founder, program director and coach, at InMotion in Warrensville Heights, said before InMotion, it was clear there weren’t many options for people living with the condition.
Ben Rossi
“I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2007 and upon diagnosis, it was clear there weren’t many options for people,” Jaffe said. “So, while getting involved in the community, I met others that agreed that we needed to provide these services. It’s one of the only centers in the country that fills the gap of care. We started out to fill that and we became a full-service organization that is getting noticed by people around the country that this is what is happening in Cleveland.”
Rossi said, “We know there is nowhere else like (InMotion). All our services are free to our clients and we’re a stigma-free community. We motivate, are helpful and supportive and our goal is to help those with Parkinson’s every day.”
Jaffe said as she’s not only a co-founder but also a client of InMotion, she has seen how outreach can change an entire family approach to diagnosis.
“For many people, before InMotion opened, there was nothing like this and they could feel isolated,” Jaffe said. “So, many people are grateful. Having a community is life-changing for them. All of that information makes all of the community a more educated community and allows people to advocate for themselves. It’s about taking the bull by the horns and to manage their disease in a way that’s more impactful.”
Rossi said InMotion offers various programs for those living with Parkinson’s, with classes that are specific to their symptoms and needs. InMotion offers classes in cycling, yoga, tai chi, boxing, dance and a program called Better Every Day, which is a unique fitness program designed for those who live with Parkinson’s disease.
“From the healing arts to our educational series and everything in between, we keep our clients ahead of the curve,” Rossi said. “‘Better Every Day’ exercise is catered to the specific symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. We offer an assessment protocol to help individuals get out of their chairs, off the floor … it’s really about exercise for brain change – to allow them to develop their minds and to tie their brain to their muscles.
“What we learn from the assessment is that our community is improving. It allows us to see who is doing well, being stable and who might be slipping and then we offer them exercise recommendations, possibly refer them to healthcare providers, and the process is designed to try and help clients keep improving.”
Woodmere resident Ann Plevin Rosenbluth has been a client at InMotion for 2 1/2 years and said her experiences at the center have changed her life.
“I got this diagnosis 10 years after I had been living with all sorts of different symptoms,” she said. “So, by the time I got to a neurologist about three years ago, I tried to manage it on my own. My sister-in-law told me about (InMotion) and I visited in and have been coming ever since.
“I didn’t know anyone with Parkinson’s and since I’ve come here, I am recognizing people who I know and didn’t know had Parkinson’s. (InMotion) is a safe and warm place that I can go to and be myself.”
Rosenbluth said that when she comes to InMotion on regular basis, she feels not only physically stronger but emotionally stronger as well.
“When you come here, you can share your week’s experiences," she said. "It avoids that isolation period that people go through when they are handling the diagnosis on their own and trying to figure out what to do next. This place sort of addresses your needs and the needs of family members. My whole family has been here and taken classes with me. They address all different types of conditions of people.”
As for the future of InMotion, Rossi, Jaffe and other leaders at the organization are hopeful.
“We are busting at the seams,” Rossi said. “We are seeing an influx of eight to 10 people coming in each week. We are getting visitors and phone calls from individuals in other parts of the country that are trying to figure out what we are doing. There is no other place like this in the Parkinson’s community.
"Other places may offer classes or other education, but we have a community that offers these services free of charge five days a week, all in one supportive center. What we’re doing is working, others in the national PD community are noticing, and this could become a national model.”
Jaffe said, “We are a forward-thinking group. We are trying to determine how to grow with our clients and to talk to them and see what their needs are and what their input is.”
https://www.clevelandjewishnews.com/features/health/inmotion-keeps-parkinson-s-community-moving/article_ab172f14-df63-11e7-923f-db5c9fa2e6cf.html
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