The National Parkinson Foundation Recognizes Family Caregivers in November

--Free Webinar, "Caring for the Caregiver" on November 7th--

MIAMI, Nov. 4, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- November is National Family Caregivers Month and the National Parkinson Foundation (NPF) is celebrating the 90 million family caregivers in the U.S. today. People suffering from Parkinson's disease (PD) rely on caregivers for support and management of the day-to-day complexities of the disease.

In recognition of National Family Caregivers Month, NPF is offering a free webinar for caregivers and people living with Parkinson's on Thursday, November 7th, 2013 from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm (EST). The webinar is called "Caring for the Caregiver" and is presented by Janis Miyasaki, MD, MEd, FRCPC, Associate Clinical Director of The Movement Disorders Centre at Toronto Western Hospital, an NPF Center of Excellence.  To register for this webinar, call NPF's Helpline at 1-800-4PD-INFO (473-4636) or visit www.parkinson.org/webinars.

"Daily caregiving requires not only a commitment to the identity, health and well-being of the person you are caring for, but also a commitment to yourself," said Joyce Oberdorf, NPF's President and CEO. "NPF is here to help caregivers maintain balance in their lives as they navigate the various challenges of caring for someone with PD."

PD is a neurodegenerative brain disorder that progresses slowly over time. An estimated 4-6 million people around the world suffer from PD and in the United States, 60,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. It is the 14th leading cause of death in the United States and the second most common neurodegenerative condition after Alzheimer's. The prevalence of PD will increase substantially in the next 20 years due to the aging of the population.

"My husband, Rick, was diagnosed with Parkinson's when he was just 33. Before Rick passed away earlier this year, I was his primary caregiver for more than 30 years and I learned a lot," explained Betty Weeden, caregiver for her husband. "I became a strong advocate for his care. The National Parkinson Foundation was an invaluable source of support and information—especially their online resources and Helpline."

For additional caregiving resources, visit www.parkinson.org/caregivers. NPF has a free publication, "Caring and Coping" which is available for download at www.parkinson.org/store. In addition, NPF will be providing daily caregiving tips and support messages via social media throughout the month of November on Facebook, www.facebook.com/parkinsondotorg, and Twitter @ParkinsonDotOrg.

About Parkinson's Disease (PD)
Affecting an estimated one million Americans and four to six million worldwide, PD is the second most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer's and is the 14th leading cause of death in the United States. It is associated with a progressive loss of motor control (e.g., shaking or tremor at rest and lack of facial expression) as well as non-motor symptoms (e.g., depression and anxiety). There is no cure for PD and 60,000 new cases are diagnosed each year in the United States alone.

About the National Parkinson Foundation (NPF)
Founded in 1957, the National Parkinson Foundation's mission is to improve the quality of care for people with Parkinson's disease through research, education and outreach. NPF has funded more than $172 million in care, research and support services. For more information about NPF, visit www.parkinson.org, or call the NPF Helpline at 1-800-4PD-INFO (473-4636).

Contact:
Leilani Pearl
305-243-7951
[email protected]

SOURCE National Parkinson Foundation