The Michael J. Fox Foundation urgently needs 12-15 people who have been recently diagnosed with PD (in the last 2 years) to participate in a market research study for an upcoming clinical research initiative. The market research is being conducted by phone and will require about 15 minutes of your time. MJFF hopes to schedule these calls this week, so please call Debi Brooks at 212-509-0995 x280 IMMEDIATELY if you are interested.

For our Lunch & Learn Brown Bag series on March 24th, our speaker, Rita Pate from ElderCare 4 Families, will present "Recharging Care Partners' Batteries" and will also provide lunch for attendees.  Please RSVP with the total number attending by Thursday, March 18th to 502-426-0888 or support@pscky.org. Also, please let us know if you would like a vegetarian meal.  You do not need to bring your lunch to this month's luncheon.

Folks often ask us what we could use to help us fulfill our mission. Here's this week's wish list!

• Colored paper for flyers
• Postcard stamps
• An A-frame easel (such as those used to hold flip-charts or posters)
• A good, gently used laptop
  

National Parkinson Foundation & American Parkinson Disease Association Young Onset Parkinson Conference, March 13, 2010, 9am-4:15pm Pacific Time (noon Eastern Time). You can register to attend on-line! Learn more about:

• Tailoring DBS Therapy for Parkinson's disease patients (Dr. Michael Okun)
• Complementary Therapies (Dr. Melanie Brandabur)
• Update on Gene Therapies for PD (Dr. Michael Aminoff)
• Is Exercise Really Medicine? (Dr. Jay Alberts)
  

We now have a copy of the USA Today Bestseller "Stages of Senior Care: your step-by-step guide to making the best decisions". Written by Paul and Lori Hogan, founders of Home Instead Senior Care, this excellent book helps you

• decide if at-home care is the right choice for you or your loved ones,
  
• evaluate the pros and cons of retirement communities, adult care centers, nonmedical caregivers, assisted living facilities, nursing homes and hospice, and
• determine the costs of senior care options and find helpful support networks.

Because we'd received repeated requests, we also have a copy of the DVD "Awakenings". Based on the acclaimed book by neurologist Oliver Sacks, director Penny Marshall's hit 1990 drama stars Robin Williams as Dr. Malcolm Sayer. Sayer is a neurologist who discovers that the drug L-Dopa can be used to "unlock" patients in a mental hospital from the mysterious sleeping sickness that has left them utterly immobilized.

We encourage you to check out this free publication for people with PD & their family members: "Life in Balance." Each issue includes tips, breaking news about treatments and an "Ask the Doctor" section. Subscriptions are free! (Thanks to CD Lucas, Jr. for the tip!)

PSCKY is now on Facebook! Please "become a fan." Thanks to everyone who's joined up so far! We now have over 180 "fans"...and we welcome your pictures, posts and conversations on our Facebook site.

A British dentist believes he's found a daily mix of food additives that can lead to dramatic improvements for people with PD. "The patients are effectively taking a mixture of food additives such as palmitoyl ascorbate, which is accepted as a safe food additive, folic acid, lemon fish oil and a probiotic drink every day."

You are welcome to attend any of these classes for care partners of older adults. The classes are on Thursdays, from 4-5pm at Norton Audubon Hospital on the sixth floor, Joint Care Gym. For more info, call 636-7014.

• Thursday, March 11th: "Throw Out the Throw Rugs: Making the Home Safe for Seniors"
• Thursday, March 18th: "Healthy Eating--Healthy Elders: Cooking for One or Two"
• Thursday, March 25th: "Dementia: Signs, Symptoms & Resources for Caring and Coping."
• Thursday, April 1st: "Balancing Act: Caring for Kids & Parents without Forgetting about You."
  

DBS Support Group: Meets every three months on a Saturday at 11am at Milestone Wellness Center at Baptist East Hospital. Lunch is provided. For information or to RSVP (RSVPs required!), please contact Lynn Hundley (502-896-7455 or lynn.hundley@bhsi.com). Next meeting: March 27, 2010. Speaker: Colleen Knoop, Nurse Practitioner with the UofL Movement Disorder Clinic.

New Beginnings, a support group for the widowed, separated and divorced, meets at 7pm each Thursday at the Church of the Epiphany (914 Old Harrods Creek Road).

Mary Kessler will be teaching Tai-Chi/Qigong classes at YogaEast Highlands' location starting Sunday, March 7th from 12-1pm. Classes will continue for the next five Sundays with the last class being April 11th. The drop-in rate is $10, or you can attend all 6 classes for $54. The class features very simple, slow, rhythmic movements done sitting or standing, focusing on deep abdominal breathing. A fun, feel-good class! For more info, call Mary at 502-968-1228 or maryk927@hotmail.com.

The Alzheimer's Association invites you to "The ABCs of Caregiving" on Thursday, March 11th from 9-11am at their offices in Kaden Tower (6100 Dutchman's Ln, Ste 401). This is an introductory program designed to assist new caregivers in understanding the disease and to help transition into the role of a care partner. To register, please call: 1-800-272-3900.

Buechel Park Baptist Church (2403 Hikes Ln) presents the 4th Annual Glorious Women Assembly on Saturday, March 13th from 8:30am - 2pm. This free event includes motivational speakers, a healthy breakfast and lunch, and lots of great health info! For reservations, call 502-585-7303.

When did you lose confidence in your balance? Register now for a free workshop on falls prevention, March 16th, 6:30PM at KORT Springhurst (3594 Springhurst Blvd, 40241; 502-339-4700). Falls can be an accident, but most are due to factors that can be improved. Want to learn more? Please come to a free evening talk to educate you on what you can do to decrease your risk of falling. Open to anyone who has or knows someone with decreased balance.