Allied health professionals are a group of healthcare providers whose role and expertise complement the work of physicians. These include specialists such as physical and occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, nutritionists, and many more. They are just as important as your Movement Disorders Specialists and Neurologists, and play a vital role in creating a comprehensive, well-rounded Parkinson’s care team that caters to your individual needs and addresses your overall well-being.

In this second episode of our Allied Health Spotlight series, we highlight the benefits of working with a speech-language pathologist early on in your Parkinson’s journey. Parkinson’s disease (PD) affects movement throughout the body, including the face, mouth, throat, and breathing muscles. As the disease progresses, people with PD may develop problems with speaking and swallowing. This can not only impact eating habits, but can also lead to soft voice and drooling, making conversations during social gatherings uncomfortable. 

In this episode, Melissa Grassia Chisholm, MS, CCC-SLP, a licensed speech pathologist and a voice-swallow airway expert, explains how speech and swallowing problems can develop in people with PD.  She also discusses different diagnostic procedures, therapies, and programs that can help improve speech and swallowing.

Follow and rate us on your favorite podcast platform to be notified when there’s a new episode! Let us know what other topics you would like us to cover by visiting parkinson.org/feedback.

Mindfulness is the intentional act of paying attention to one’s body, sensations, thoughts, feelings, or surroundings in the present moment, without judgment. Practicing mindfulness can give a sense of calm, help manage pain, reduce stress, and improve clarity and mental well-being. In being aware of and calmly accepting feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations in a non-judgmental way, individuals can reshape their thoughts and expectations into something more manageable. For people with Parkinson’s disease (PD), mindfulness is particularly good for reducing anxiety and depression, as well as coping with daily stressors.

In this episode, Crista Ellis, Senior Community Program Manager with the Parkinson’s Foundation and a certified yoga and meditation educator, describes what mindfulness is, how easy it is to practice in a short amount of time, and how it can benefit people with PD. She also leads us through a brief mindfulness practice for listeners to participate in.

Follow and rate us on your favorite podcast platform to be notified when there’s a new episode! Let us know what other topics you would like us to cover by visiting parkinson.org/feedback.

The Parkinson’s Foundation makes life better for people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) by improving care and advancing research toward a cure. The Foundation recognizes the importance of funding and supporting research studies dedicated to better understanding the causes of PD, developing more effective treatments, and ultimately finding a cure. The Foundation awards research grants to support investigators working on diverse research projects, along with collaborating with other institutions to advance PD research. 

One of its major initiatives is exploring the genes and other factors associated with the development of PD through a global project, PD GENEration: Mapping the Future of Parkinson’s Disease. By gathering genetic information from tens of thousands of people with PD, this study offers genetic testing for relevant disease-related genes and genetic counseling to help participants understand their results, all at no cost to them. At the same time, knowledge gathered through PD GENEration will promote more focused, gene-specific clinical trials of drugs and may lead to novel therapy options for people with PD. In this episode, we explore the origins of PD GENEration, its growth over the years, and its goals with Dr. James Beck, Chief Scientific Officer of the Parkinson’s Foundation.

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Los profesionales de la salud aliados son un grupo de profesionales médicos cuya función y conocimientos complementan la labor de los médicos. Entre ellos se encuentran los fisioterapeutas, terapeutas del habla y el lenguaje, nutricionistas y más. Son tan importantes como sus especialistas en trastornos del movimiento y neurólogos y desempeñan un papel vital en la creación de un equipo de atención al Parkinson integral y completo que atienda sus necesidades individuales y se ocupe de su bienestar general. 

En este episodio, hablamos con Ana Molano, una terapeuta del habla y el lenguaje especializada en el tratamiento de los trastornos de la voz y la deglución. A medida que avanza la enfermedad de Parkinson, la voz de una persona puede volverse más suave o puede experimentar dificultades para tragar. Ana habla de las ventajas de trabajar con un terapeuta del habla para evaluar y abordar los desafíos del habla y la deglución en la EP. Destaca la importancia de obtener una evaluación de referencia para identificar los problemas actuales, lo que ayuda a crear un plan terapéutico individualizado. También habla de los síntomas frecuentes que puede experimentar una persona con la EP, así como de algunos signos menos comunes a los que hay que estar atentos. 

Each November, the Parkinson’s Foundation joins organizations across the country to honor care partners for National Family Caregivers Month. In this episode, we highlight the stories and experiences of two people who care for a person with Parkinson’s disease. Ripley Hensley is an emergency room nurse and a doctoral student at the University of Connecticut School of Nursing. Although she currently lives in Connecticut, she manages to find ways to help support both her mother, who is the primary caregiver, and her father who has Parkinson’s, back in Georgia. Meanwhile, Tom Graffeo lives with his partner, who has young-onset Parkinson’s. Although their caregiving roles differ, they share similar concerns and discuss how they provide care for their loved ones, while also prioritizing their own well-being.

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Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a “clinical” diagnosis, based on a person’s medical history, symptoms, and physical exam. Although certain laboratory or imaging tests can be helpful in reaching a diagnosis, no single test can confirm PD. Among the tests currently used to support a PD diagnosis, or to rule out other conditions that can mimic PD, are magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain, the dopamine transporter scan (DaTscan) to look at how dopamine is transported in certain areas of the brain, Syn-One, or skin biopsies, and blood work.

Sometimes, a PD diagnosis is straightforward based on the presence of certain symptoms, but in other cases, it may take a number of clinic visits to make a definitive diagnosis. The best way to ensure a correct diagnosis of PD, or a similar condition, is to see a neurologist specializing in movement disorders. One of the leading Parkinson’s specialists is Dr. Michael Okun, National Medical Advisor for the Parkinson’s Foundation and Director of the Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases at the University of Florida in Gainesville. In this podcast episode, he explains some of the current tools for making a Parkinson’s diagnosis, how they are used, and some of their limitations.

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Alrededor de un 20-40% de las personas con Parkinson experimentan algún tipo de alucinación o delusión en algún momento de su recorrido por la enfermedad de Parkinson (EP). Aunque en la actualidad los estudios no indican que la comunidad hispanohablante de la EP corra un mayor riesgo de desarrollar estos síntomas, sigue siendo importante conocer los posibles signos para estar mejor preparado para manejar situaciones de emergencia. Las alucinaciones y delusiones en sí pueden asustar, pero cuando se combinan con otros síntomas del Parkinson, pueden ser aún más problemáticas.

En este episodio, hablamos con la Dra. Blanca Valdovinos, neuróloga especialista en trastornos del movimiento del Centro Médico de University of Rochester. Ella comparte su experiencia de primera mano en trabajar con personas con Parkinson, basándose en el tiempo que pasó dirigiendo una clínica semanal para sus pacientes hispanohablantes con afecciones neurológicas. Explica qué son las alucinaciones y delusiones, destaca sus diferencias y proporciona ejemplos de cómo pueden presentarse en una persona con Parkinson. Ofrece orientación para reconocer las primeras señales y comparte cómo los familiares y aliados en el cuidado pueden responder mejor si su ser querido experimenta una alucinación o delusión. 

Allied health professionals are a group of healthcare providers whose role and expertise complement the work of physicians. These include specialists such as physical and occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, nutritionists, and many more. They are just as important as your Movement Disorders Specialists and Neurologists, and play a vital role in creating a comprehensive, well-rounded Parkinson’s care team that caters to your individual needs and addresses your overall well-being.

In this first episode of our Allied Health Spotlight series, we explore the benefits of including physical therapy in your care plan.

Exercise is a vital component for people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) to maintain balance, mobility, and activities of daily living. It should be part of the standard practice of care for every person with PD. Research has shown that exercise is the only intervention with the potential to slow the progression of the disease. In this episode, Physical Therapist Tricia Brown, PT, DPT, NCS of Chapman University in California, who specializes in neurologic diseases, discusses some considerations for exercising safely, taking into account the particular needs of people with PD. She also talks about how to get and stay motivated to exercise and where to find classes or programs.

Follow and rate us on your favorite podcast platform to be notified when there’s a new episode! Let us know what other topics you would like us to cover by visiting parkinson.org/feedback.

A hospital stay can be a stressful situation for everyone, whether you are the person receiving care or the support person providing comfort.  People with Parkinson’s (PD) are at a higher risk of hospitalizations, so it is crucial to be prepared ahead of time for when the situation arises. The Parkinson’s Foundation recently created the Hospital Safety Guide, which is the updated and improved version of the former Aware in Care kit. The Guide incorporates information from the kit, but now highlights the “Five Parkinson’s Care Needs”, which is a tool for communicating your needs and priorities with hospital staff. It also includes a Hospital Planner checklist with step-by-step instructions on how to create a hospital “go bag” for emergencies. The Guide provides infographics and real-life examples from people with Parkinson’s and loved ones who have solved common problems relating to their PD when in the hospital. 

In this episode, Annie Brooks, Director of Strategic Initiatives at the Parkinson’s Foundation, discusses features of the new Hospital Safety Guide and how best to use it.

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Los trabajadores de salud comunitaria (TSC o CHW, por sus siglas en inglés) o promotores ayudan a cerrar la brecha entre los profesionales de la salud y los miembros de la comunidad proporcionando educación y recursos culturalmente competentes y relevantes a la comunidad local. Desempeñan un papel vital en la interacción con la comunidad para identificar necesidades, proporcionar educación sanitaria y servir como recurso. Generan confianza y un sentimiento de conexión con los miembros de la comunidad, con el objetivo de empoderarlos para tomar decisiones informadas acerca de su salud y bienestar en general.  

La Parkinson’s Foundation puso en marcha un programa de formación para promotores para brindarles educación acerca de la enfermedad de Parkinson, con la esperanza de que esto los lleve a compartir y generar conciencia acerca de la enfermedad en sus comunidades. En este episodio, invitamos a Ilda Hernandez, una promotora que trabaja con Enlace en la zona de Chicago y que recientemente completó la formación. Habla de la importancia de trabajar en colaboración con las organizaciones locales y los sistemas de salud y destaca algunos desafíos que ha enfrentado durante sus esfuerzos de vinculación en su comunidad.