SPOKANE Learning about the challenges of living with Parkinson’s disease is an annual discussion in the WSU College of Pharmacy curriculum. This year the class is open to all area students and the public in learning first-hand how to cope with the disease and how to support those living with it.
The free educational forum, held in conjunction with the Parkinson’s Resource Center of Spokane, is scheduled 8:30 to 11 a.m. on Friday, April 15 on the Riverpoint Campus in the Academic Center Auditorium, Room 20, at 600 N. Riverpoint Blvd.
It will be available via video-conference with a moderator in the room to facilitate questions from the audience to the panel. A panel of patients, caregivers and health care providers will share their personal stories of survival and answer questions about the reality of living with Parkinson’s.
“This forum will bring together people with Parkinson’s, their care partners, health sciences students, and the greater community to provide a better understanding of the disease and the challenges it causes for those who are affected by it,” said Lindy Swain, fellow in Geriatrics for the WSU College of Pharmacy department of Pharmacotherapy. “This is a great opportunity to educate our future health care providers about Parkinson’s and bring the community together in support.”
Those who have questions about Parkinson’s disease and will be viewing the live stream, may send questions ahead of time to Swain at lindy_wood@wsu.edu.
Parkinson’s is a common neurodegenerative disease that can lead to shaking (tremors), muscle rigidity, and difficulty in walking, movement, and coordination. In addition to its effects on movement, Parkinson’s can cause depression, anxiety, difficulty thinking, sleep problems, and trouble with speech and swallowing. It affects approximately 1 in 100 people over the age of 60, but about ten percent of those diagnosed with Parkinson’s are younger than 40.
For anyone unable to attend in person, the forum will be video-streamed live from the following link: http://mediasite.spokane.wsu.edu/Mediasite/Viewer/?peid=5f80815f852b4ffbb78cd720b7937e4c1d.
Following the forum, questions may be addressed to the Parkinson’s Resource Center at 509-473-2490 or center@spokaneparkinsons.org.
Panelists participating in the forum are Judi Sloane, Parkinson’s patient and member of the Parkinson’s Resource Center Board of Directors; Ian Riley, Parkinson’s patient and CEO of Oz Fitness; Ruth Palnick, Parkinson’s patient and Chaplain & Urban Missionary; Richard Peterson, Parkinson’s patient and retired chemical engineer; Roger Llewelyn, Parkinson’s patient; Jamie Mark, nurse practitioner at Northwest Neurological, PLLC and caregiver for Parkinson’s patients; and Dennis Walter, Parkinson’s patient and police officer.
Further imformation can be found at WSU College of Pharmacy: www.pharmacy.wsu.edu and
Parkinson’s Resource Center: www.spokaneparkinsons.org
Parkinson’s Resource Center: www.spokaneparkinsons.org