National Parkinson Foundation
Chapter Offers Free Literature for Patients, Family, and Caregivers
New Booklets Provide Support
and Insight for Those Living With Parkinson's Disease
The National Parkinson Foundation, Orange County Chapter has produced, and
is offering free of charge, two booklets specifically designed to support Parkinson's
patients, as well as their family, friends, and caregivers. Parkinson's disease
(PD) is a serious and progressive disease with no known cure or prevention,
although a number of medications are available that have proven to slow the
illness and ease its symptoms.
The first booklet, entitled Dear Friends and Family, is a unique work
in that it was written from the point-of-view of a recently diagnosed Parkinson's
patient. Most Parkinson's literature is geared towards patients or caregivers.
While these groups can benefit from reading Dear Friends and Family,
its primary focus is to provide support and insight to friends and family not
currently living with the patient.
Dear Friends and Family is easy to read and understand, eliminating
clinical or medical terms. It provides valuable information regarding how a
patient's life may change, and the effect of the disease on their personal
interactions. By presenting the information in the first person, the reader
will "hear" the patient, rather than an anonymous researcher or medical
source. Although the brochure is deliberately brief so it can be read in a
single session, it contains a wide range of information covering the many impacts
Parkinson's can have on a patient's quality of life. The initial copy is free,
and patients are encouraged to secure additional copies ($1.00 each) from NPFOCC
for distribution to friends and family members.
We Are There is a more traditional guide developed by
caregivers specifically for caregivers of Parkinson's patients.
While the impact of PD varies from patient to patient, and
advances at different rates, there are many similarities that
patients and caregivers would benefit from understanding.
We Are There provides considerable detail in nine areas,
while recognizing the individual nature of the illness. Those
areas are: [1] cooking, eating and drinking; [2] toilet and
bath; [3] dressing and grooming; [4] medications and health
care; [5] speaking, reading, and writing; [6] sleeping, exercise,
and therapy; [7] housekeeping; [8] mobility, travel, and transportation;
and [9] finances, economics, and insurance. Parkinson's disease
has a significant impact on both the patient and the caregiver,
and this booklet examines the consequences for both parties
in their interdependent relationship. A records section allows
the patient to complete personal data that is useful to the
primary caregiver and others. The initial copy is available
free of charge. Additional copies can be obtained from NPFOCC
for $2.00 each.
Both booklets are available in Acrobat Reader (PDF) format, and can be downloaded,
free-of-charge, via http://www.npfocc.org
About Parkinson's: Parkinson's
disease (PD) is a chronic neurological condition. It is estimated that
up to 1,500,000 Americans are affected, more persons than those suffering
from Multiple Sclerosis and Muscular Dystrophy combined. While there
is, as yet, no cure for this condition, progressive treatments allow
many patients to maintain a high level of function throughout their
lifetimes.
About NPFOCC: The National
Parkinson Foundation Orange County Chapter is based in Newport Beach,
Orange County, California. Donations and brochure requests may be made
to NPFOCC at 355
Placentia Avenue, #302, Newport Beach, CA 92663, Phone: 949-764-6998.
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