Parkinson's Disease Foundation Offers Free Resources During National Family Caregivers Month

NEW YORK, Nov. 10, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In recognition of National Family Caregivers Month, the Parkinson's Disease Foundation® (PDF®) is offering free resources to address unmet needs of care partners of people with Parkinson's disease.  PDF invites Parkinson's disease care partners and loved ones to access our free programs by visiting www.pdf.org/caregivers_month.

As many as one million Americans live with Parkinson's disease.  Because of the chronic and progressive nature of Parkinson's disease, it can be a life-changing experience for an extended care network of family members, loved ones and friends.  This is especially true for the primary Parkinson's care partner, who often helps with medical appointments and prescriptions, and as the disease progresses, may take on more physically demanding tasks such as helping to dress and bathe a loved one.

"As a caregiver to my husband Len, who lives with Parkinson's, I know first-hand how the disease impacts family and friends," said Elaine Casavant, R.N., of Lansing, MI, a member of the PDF People with Parkinson's Advisory Council.  "The good news is that at every step of our journey — from the moment of diagnosis when we become care partners to our gradual transition to caregivers — PDF is available to support us."

In previous surveys conducted by PDF, care partners of people with Parkinson's disease overwhelmingly reported the need for more information on coping with changes to a loved one's cognitive abilities.  In response, PDF is offering its annual caregiving online seminar on the topic of cognition today at 1:00 PM ET.  Here is how care partners can access today's free seminar and find additional support this November:

• Get practical tips: Care partners and loved ones are invited to join PDF's free online seminar, "Cognitive Issues: Advice for Parkinson's Care Partners," today, November 10 at 1:00 PM ET, led by Rebecca Gilbert, M.D., Ph.D., Clinical Associate Professor of Neurology, NYU Langone Medical Center & NYU Langone Parkinson's and Movement Disorders Center.  A recording will be available on the PDF website within one week.  Free continuing education units are offered to qualifying health professionals via PDF's sponsorship of the American Society on Aging.
• Tell PDF what care partners need: Care partners and loved ones are invited to share their greatest challenges and unmet needs through PDF's 10-question Parkinson's caregiver survey.  Survey participants can respond online, by mail or by phone. PDF will use the results to plan future educational programs.
• Find support: PDF invites care partners and loved ones to find support by contacting its toll-free National HelpLine at (800) 457-6676 or [email protected], Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM ET.  PDF's team of information specialists can point care partners toward local support groups and resources and can send free educational publications from PDF's extensive line of brochures, fact sheets and DVDs.  For non-English speaking callers, interpreters are available in more than 200 languages.

"There are many heroes in the Parkinson's community and care partners are certainly one unsung group," said Robin Anthony Elliott, President of PDF.  "During National Family Caregivers Month, we recognize their contributions and urge them to take advantage of PDF's free tools to help them care for themselves and their loved ones who live with Parkinson's disease."

PDF invites care partners and loved ones of people with Parkinson's disease to learn more by contacting our toll-free National HelpLine at (800) 457-6676 or [email protected] or by visiting www.pdf.org/caregivers_month. 

About Parkinson's Disease
Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurological disorder that affects nearly one million people in the US.  Although promising research is being conducted, there is currently no cure for Parkinson's.

About PDF Programs for Care Partners
As the population of the US ages, the incidence of Parkinson's disease is expected to increase.  This will affect the number of people needed to care for people living with Parkinson's disease.  To support this growing population, PDF offers programming and services for care partners, including a toll-free National HelpLine available at (800) 457-6676, an online seminar held annually during National Family Caregivers Month and print resources geared toward care partner needs. This year's caregiving online seminar has been made possible by educational grants from AbbVie, Inc., Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Lundbeck LLC.  It was designed in collaboration with Dallas Area Parkinsonism Society (DAPS); Houston Area Parkinson Society (HAPS); Michigan Parkinson Foundation (MPF); the Neuro Challenge Foundation (NCF); Parkinson Association of the Carolinas (PAC); Parkinson Association of the Rockies (PAR); Parkinson's Association (PA) and Parkinson Support Center of Kentuckiana (PSCKY).  To learn more, visit www.pdf.org/caregivers_month. 

About the Parkinson's Disease Foundation
The Parkinson's Disease Foundation® (PDF®) is a leading national presence in Parkinson's disease research, education and public advocacy. We are working for the nearly one million people in the US who live with Parkinson's disease by funding promising scientific research while supporting people living with Parkinson's disease through educational programs and services.  Since its founding in 1957, PDF has dedicated nearly $110 million to fund the work of leading scientists throughout the world and nearly $47 million to support national education and advocacy programs.

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SOURCE Parkinson's Disease Foundation

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