You may be interested in the "Care for the Caregiver" series of free workshops coordinated by Gilda's Club Louisville and GuardiaCare Services. All classes will be held at Gilda's Club (633 Baxter Ave) and start at 7pm. Please RSVP to 583-0075.

• November 2: Caring for yourself while caring for a loved one. Learn about self-care and how to recognize signs of caregiver stress and depression. Also, get resources & techniques to manage those challenges.
• November 9: Legal issues. Advance planning and issues related to healthcare surrogates, powers of attorney, living wills and guardianship.
• November 16: Having those difficult conversations. How to start conversations with your loved one about physical or mental concerns, the need for in-home care, giving up driving, end of life wishes and plans and deciding to seek alternative living arrangements.
• November 23: Keeping your loved ones safe at home. Safety measures inside & outside the home, medication safety, emergency preparedness when dealing with an ill, disabled or elderly loved one.
  

David Autin, a person with Parkinson's, submitted the following for us to share with you this week.

One thing everyone agrees on is that staying active, both physically and mentally, is essential for people with Parkinson's disease. Daily physical exercise is a must, of course, but what about mental exercise? What can you do do to keep your mind alert, sharp and happy? Watching TV all day is not the answer. There are so many better things to do.

Read a good book. Do you like adventure? Check out National Geographic's website for the "100 greatest adventure books of all time". History? How about a six-volume history of WWII by someone who really knows what he's talking about--Winston Churchill. Strange science? Try On the Track of Unknown Animals by Bernard Heuvelman, the father of cryptozoology. The possibilities are endless!

Write a good book. Write stories, poems, a cookbook, children's books--whatever appeals to you. I like aphorisms--short sayings like maxims, proverbs, etc. Here are a few I've written:

• Flowers are explosions of quiet grace.
• Triangles say squares are just showing off.
• If ignorance is bliss, stupidity is Nirvana itself.

Puzzles and Computer Games: Crossword puzzles, Sudoku, acrostics, etc., are good ways to exercise your wits and keep your mind nimble. So are many computer games. I like "Bejeweled" which challenges you to find and create patterns in a grid of brightly colored gemstones. There is an untimed game for practice and relaxation, and a "beat the clock" game that has helped sharpen my concentration and reflexes. But watch out! It's easy to get addicted.

We are pleased to announce that PSCKY is now on Facebook! Please "become a fan" and post your news items, stories, updates and pictures, or take advantage of the Discussion Area to start conversations with other local folks who are living with Parkinson's. We'll be posting news and pictures as well, so be sure to link up to us! Thanks to everyone who's joined up so far!

The PSCKY South Group will be meeting again on November 18th at 6pm at St. Mary's & Elizabeth Hospital. The meeting room has changed to the Boardroom. When you arrive, go to the front desk and they will direct you to the new room. This meeting is NOT listed on our printed November calendar, as we received the news after the newsletter had already gone to press. See you there!

Debbie Buckler (the gracious host of PSCKY's Sure Steps Care Partner Support Group) is closing her store, Endless Surprises, this Saturday, October 31st. Don't miss the opportunity to do some early holiday shopping for candles, jewelry, handbags and more. The address is 11722 Old Shelbyville Road in Middletown. If you need directions or more information, you can call her at 599-9461 or email her.

The deadline to register for the special November Lunch & Learn on Deep Brain Stimulation Therapy is Tuesday, November 10th. Medtronic is providing our lunch that day, and we'll need to know how many lunches to order. Please let us know if you plan to attend the Lunch & Learn on Wednesday, November 18th. We need to know your name, how many are attending, and whether anyone in your party requires a vegetarian lunch. We look forward to seeing you there!