Grants Pass: Parkinson’s 101 & Community Town Hall Discussion

Please join us for a free educational event and town hall discussion about rural care for PD.

Parkinson’s Resources of Oregon is excited to bring a special two-part event to the Grants Pass community this spring! Join us for PD 101, an empowering introduction to understanding and managing Parkinson’s—perfect for those newly diagnosed, care partners, or anyone wanting practical tools to live well.

Afterward, stay for our Community Town Hall, where your voice takes center stage. We want to hear from local residents about the experiences, strengths, and needs unique to rural Parkinson’s care. Your insights will help shape future programs and support across southern Oregon. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn, connect, and make a difference in your community!

Register at pro.eventbrite.com 

Brought to Grants Pass with support from the Roundhouse Foundation.

The Power of Interdisciplinary Teams for Parkinson’s

A moderated discussion with OHSU experts about engaging with your care team.

PRO is thrilled to partner with OHSU to bring a special educational opportunity to Astoria. This moderated panel discussion will explore how people with Parkinson’s and their care partners can best partner with the wide range of healthcare professionals they may encounter in their Parkinson’s care team. These team members include movement disorder specialist neurologists, nurses, social workers, and occupational, speech, and physical therapists. Learn insights from these experts about what helps them provide the best care possible to each individual.

We will also have plenty of time dedicated for our panel to respond to audience questions.

Preparing for the Unexpected

Illness, family obligations, and medical needs can all come unexpectedly for any of us, and for those of us in crucial roles as caregivers (for ourselves or others), it is important to plan ahead.

We will assist participants as they identify steps to take to get prepared, including rallying support and identifying roles ahead of time for family and friends, finding care resources, and gathering and organizing crucial information. By taking steps to prepare and communicate with your larger network, we hope to lessen the stress of “what will happen if I can’t be there?” and “What will happen if I need help?”

A packet of related information will be provided to attendees via email.

Free virtual event. Registration is required.

Register

Beaverton: Advanced Stage Family Caregiver Workshop

This in-person workshop, which is for Family Caregivers only, will provide practical guidance for navigating your loved one’s advanced PD.

This education workshop is designed to equip family members and caregivers with the knowledge and resources to approach the advanced stages of the disease with greater confidence. Recognizing that every family situation is unique, this program will educate caregivers about the issues and decisions impacting quality of life. This includes an exploration of the physical and cognitive changes to expect, as well as the other medical aspects of advanced PD; the legal considerations to be aware of including long-term care basics, power of attorney, and Medicaid planning; and finally a discussion of hospice services – what it really means, when it may be appropriate, and how to start this important conversation early.

 

Medford: The Parkinson’s Plan Author Talk & Book Signing

Join Dr. Ray Dorsey, renowned neurologist, researcher, and advocate, for an engaging talk on his groundbreaking new book, The Parkinson’s Plan. Hear first-hand from Dr. Dorsey as he shares highlights from the book, which outlines a detailed strategy to prevent, treat, and slow the increasing rate of Parkinson’s diagnoses worldwide. Attendees will leave informed, empowered, and inspired to take action for themselves, their loved ones, and their communities.

We will have meet and greet time to have books signed from 12:30 – 1:00 pm, with the talk beginning at 1:00 PM.

We encourage you to bring your own copy of the book The Parkinson’s Plan to have it signed!

Vancouver: Preparing for the Unexpected

Illness, family obligations, and medical needs can all come unexpectedly for any of us, and for those of us in crucial roles as caregivers (for ourselves or others), it is important to plan ahead.

We will assist participants as they identify steps to take to get prepared, including rallying support and identifying roles ahead of time for family and friends, finding care resources, and gathering and organizing crucial information. By taking steps to prepare and communicate with your larger network, we hope to lessen the stress of “what will happen if I can’t be there?” and “What will happen if I need help?”

This event will be in-person and a packet of information will be provided at the event.

Thank you to Boomerang Therapy Works for hosting this free event. Registration is required.

Register

Beaverton: Dance for PD(R) and Drum Kickoff Party

Dance and Drum for PD Kickoff is an integrated dance and drumming class that will combine simple fun movement sequences, rhythmic drumming, and collaborative group activities.

Join us for this special event to try it out as we celebrate the kickoff of this new program. It will be upbeat where creativity takes center stage – using cool rhythms and imaginative movement to make staying active feel fresh and inspiring. You’ll connect with others, express yourself, and build confidence in an environment where your ideas and unique style are always welcome.

Diedre Jolley Smith and Brynna Hurwitz will lead dance portions of class. Aaron Nigel Smith will provide live music for the event with music programming that aligns with Dance for PD’s methodology, with an emphasis on drumming. You do not need a partner to attend, and no prior drumming or dance experience necessary. Don’t miss this opportunity for fun – we can’t wait to see you there!

Registration is free, but required.

Register

Medford: Being Proactive with Parkinson’s

Acting on the aspects of life that we can control is an important skill to develop to effectively manage a Parkinson’s diagnosis. Whether it is building your care team or understanding the importance of exercise, nutrition, socialization, and self-care, being actively engaged and proactive in your own care is the key to living your best life with Parkinson’s.

Presented by Mike Mulligan, Community Health Education Coordinator. PRO provides education and trainings, along with support groups and a helpline to those experiencing PD and their families across Oregon and SW Washington.

Klamath Falls: Gizmos and Gadgets for Everyday Life

Every day there are activities in our lives that we need to or want to do – making a meal, taking a shower, balancing our checkbook, playing a musical instrument, working in the garden. With Parkinson’s, sometimes one’s ability to do these actives confidently and safely can be affected. When this happens, working with an Occupational Therapist (OT) can by extremely beneficial!

Join Mallory Apel, OTD for an interactive and engaging discussion about what OTs do, how they help their clients, and explore the many adaptive “gizmos and gadgets” they use to help people achieve their goals. You will discover that there is much more to working with an OT than just the activities of daily living!

Vancouver: Parkinson’s 101

Are you concerned about yourself or a loved one? Have you recently been diagnosed? This program will help you understand what Parkinson’s is and is not and why it is difficult to diagnose.

Parkinson’s disease (PD), is a chronic, neurodegenerative disease that can lead to a wide range of symptoms and challenges. This presentation will provide an overview, what the signs and symptoms are, and what treatment options and resources are available. We will also be discussing the importance of exercise along with some guidelines and strategies for managing symptoms.

Presented by Mike Mulligan, Community Health Education Coordinator and Emily Kaemmerlen, PT, DPT, owner of Boomerang Therapy Works. PRO provides education and trainings, along with support groups and a helpline to those experiencing PD and their families across Oregon and SW Washington.

Thank you to Boomerang Therapy Works for hosting this free event. Registration is required.

Register