Frazier Rehab and the Parkinson Support Center for Kentuckiana are partnering together to bring LSVT® Big support groups to the greater-Louisville community.  LSVT® Big is a specially designed, exercise-based, therapy program for people with Parkinson's disease that teaches deliberate movements to increase balance, speed of movement and size of movement.  Occupational therapists and physical therapists receive specialized training that they are then able to pass along to the patients.
 
Many patients need ongoing education and support after their initial LSVT® Big training.  Frazier Rehab Institute and PSCKY are proud to partner together to provide community support groups beginning in the second quarter of 2010.  The community support groups, made possible by a grant from PSCKY's 2010 Capital Campaign Partnership Grants Program, will allow a to-be-determined number of support groups, led by a trained therapist, to meet on a weekly-basis.  The groups will take place at local community centers/churches and will have 8 - 10 individuals per group to allow for a small, intimate setting.
 
The goal from these support groups is to maintain and enhance the benefits patients received from their individual LSVT® Big training sessions. 
 
"As the only rehab institution offering LSVT® Big training in the Louisville community, Frazier Rehab is proud and excited to partner with PSCKY to offer ongoing support groups to our LSVT® Big patients.  We've seen firsthand the difference that LSVT® Big can make in the lives of our patients with Parkinson's disease and know that, by taking this next step, the individual training the patients receive will have even greater results over time," said Kathy Panther, Director, Frazier Rehab Institute.
 
If you are interested in joining a LSVT® Big Support Group, please call 502-426-0888 or email support@pscky.org. The first group, "EVEN BIGGER!", will meet on Wednesday evenings from 7-8pm at the Masonic Home campus off Frankfort Avenue. We will have the first meeting date set later this week....look for it next week's e-news!

Don't have PD? You can help! The Institute for Neurodegenerative Disorders at Yale is recruiting unaffected first-degree relatives of people with PD (as well as non-relatives) to complete a smell test. Based on the results of the smell test, they are asking a subset of people to complete a clinic visit and imaging visits with BCIT. The study has been very successful. To date, over 10,000 people have completed eligibility forms and almost 300 people have been imaged. If you'd like more info about PARS, please visit the website.

This is one of the better-illustrated exercise books for people with PD that we've seen. David Zid's "Delay the Disease: exercise & Parkinson's disease" is a spiral bound book (handy, as it lays flat) with full-color photos of each exercise, ranging from easy to difficult. Workouts have even been combined into a weekly agenda which can modified based on the level of difficulty you're seeking. Check it out! We also think you may enjoy the Delay the Disease website.

We've also just received a copy of the KET show (#508: Treatments for Movement Disorders) that features Dr. Irene Litvan and our own Jinn Fuller Renfro.

We're always happy to send any of our lending library materials directly to your home at no charge. To see a full list of our materials, visit the Books page of our website.

PSCKY is now on Facebook! Please "become a fan." Thanks to everyone who's joined up so far! We now have 190 "fans"...and we welcome your pictures, posts and conversations on our Facebook site.

This week (March 14-20) is Cover the Uninsured Week. There are 46 million Americans, including 9 million children, living without health insurance. Visit here to learn what you can do to help raise awareness and find solutions.

Our friends at Home Instead Senior Care have shared this great resource, part of public education campaign designed to encourage seniors to stay engaged and fit: Get Mom Moving. (We particularly enjoyed the simple activities to increase fitness of the mind, body and soul, and feel they're great for anyone of any age!) Call Home Instead at 502-515-9515 to learn about the Get Mom Moving Activity Cards, extensive CAREGiver training and more!

You may also enjoy this site: Medical News for You!

There will be a Mayoral Candidate Forum to discuss issues of concern to the African-American community Tuesdays, March 16th at 6pm at Meyzeek Middle School (828 S Jackson St, Louisville 40203). All candidates for Mayor have been invited, and this forum is free and open to the public.

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.