Tuesday, October 9, 2018

Tomorrow, we begin the 3rd installment of the wildly successful Parkinson's Disease Self Efficacy Learning Forum or PD SELF.  What is this program you may ask?  The PD SELF-website (www.pdself.org) sums it up best this way:
The aim of PD SELF is to provide newly diagnosed people with Parkinson’s and their care partners with a disease-specific, person-specific, interactive learning approach to self-efficacy that, together with basic understanding of the disease and its progression, will allow them to improve their quality of life over time.
Founded in 2013 by Parkinson patient Diane Cook, a proof of concept was done in the Denver area with about a dozen students.  Based on its initial success, the program was run as a pilot program in 10 US cities, starting in September of 2015.  The Detroit team of trained instructors (Steve Femminineo, PD patient; and Brian Cooper,  Occupational Therapist) were part of this pilot program and have worked together to offer the program in the Detroit area ever since.  The Michigan Parkinson Foundation has co-sponsored the program locally through subsidizing the meeting room, as well as publicizing the program via its extensive marketing reach.

The program begins Wednesday, October 10th, and runs from Noon - 3:00 pm.  All other modules meet on the 3rd Wednesday of the month, with the exception of May (which will be on May 8th due to a scheduling conflict with the conference room.  All meetings run from Noon until 3:00 pm.

Here is the Syllabus for Detroit PD SELF:

Date
Topic
October 10, 2018
Module 1 - Adjusting to Parkinson's Disease
November 21, 2018
Module 2 - Introduction to Self Efficacy
December 19, 2018
Module 3 - Benefiting from Exercise and Neuroplasticity
January 17, 2019
Module 4 = 4  PD Medications and Treatments
February 20, 2019
Module 5 - Understanding Non-Motor Symptoms
March 20, 2019
Module 6 - Creating Your Personal Healthcare Network
April 17, 2019
Module 7 - Strengthening the Relationship Between PWP and Care Partner
May 8,2019
Module 8 - Going Forward
Note:     All sessions run from Noon - 3:00 pm at the Michigan Parkinson Foundation offices 
            ( 30400 Telegraph Road, Suite 150   Bingham Farms, MI 48025)