Recently Diagnosed

All programs are live and online. Program times are Eastern Standard Time (EST).

Being recently diagnosed with Parkinson’s can be experienced in many different ways. For some, it can be a shock. For others, it’s a relief to find an answer. Ultimately, each person’s path with PD is distinctive, but support is available to help you deal with the uncertainties your diagnosis may bring you.

Join us for a monthly online bootcamp program that will guide people recently diagnosed with Parkinson’s (within the last 5 years) to engage in better health, knowledge, exercise and lifestyle choices.

Please scroll down to learn more about the following topics:

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“I have difficulties communicating when I . . .”

Communication issues are a common complaint in Parkinson’s. While much of this can be traced to problems directly related to voice and speech performance, communication can also be affected by many common issues associated with Parkinson’s, including fatigue, fluctuations in attention, and other cognitive factors, often in conjunction with sleep difficulties. Join John Dean & Josefa Domingos to understand better how these factors affect speech and communication and explore strategies to reduce their impact.

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Does dual task training help walking, balance and motor difficulties in Parkinson’s?

Dual-task difficulties can affect daily activities such as cooking while moving around the kitchen, walking while carrying a bag of groceries, conversing while walking, and stopping suddenly while responding to a question. Dual-task training can improve the delayed responses, swaying, and stumbling in these situations, reducing the potential risks.

Join us for a monthly online bootcamp program that will guide people recently diagnosed with Parkinson’s (within the last 5 years) to engage in better health, knowledge, exercise and lifestyle choices.

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Highlights from the World Parkinson’s Congress 2023

The World Parkinson’s Congress is a unique program that brings together people with Parkinson’s, families, researchers, therapists, and physicians. By including the voices of those with lived experience, and their care partners, the Congress takes on a completely new tone that sets it apart from purely scientific congresses directed toward medical professionals.

Hosted every 3 years, the conference highlights interesting research breakthroughs as well as inspirational advocacy by those living with Parkinson’s around the world.

Parkinson’s specialists Josefa Domingos and John Dean share some of the most compelling sessions, posters, and activities at this excellent four-day program, which was hosted in Barcelona, Spain, in early July 2023.

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Technologies for Parkinson’s: balancing Benefits vs. Frustrations

Technological tools hold great promise in improving the lives of people with Parkinson’s, but they also bring their fair share of challenges.

Parkinson’s specialists John Dean and Josefa Domingos explore practical strategies for striking a balance between the benefits and drawbacks of utilizing emerging technologies in managing issues related to Parkinson’s disease.

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Online Exercise: Just a Complement to or a Vital Part of Your Parkinson’s Exercise Journey?

What are the pros and cons of online exercise compared to in-person exercise? When is online exercise enough? The debate between convenience and results. Ultimately, is online exercise an integrated part of your self-care or just a complement to in-person workouts?

Parkinson’s specialists Josefa Domingos and John Dean discuss practical reflections on the benefits and limitations of virtual workouts for people with PD.

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Addressing PD-related Pain

Pain is a common nonmotor symptom of Parkinson’s and has a significant negative impact on the quality of life for many people with PD. Just distinguishing PD-related pain from non-PD-associated pain can be challenging.

Parkinson’s specialists Josefa Domingos and John Dean discuss practical suggestions for people with PD on how to assess pain characteristics best and monitor and manage PD-related pain issues.

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Addressing difficulties paying attention, thinking clearly, or planning an activity

Parkinson’s can impact specific cognitive skills, such as planning activities, finding the right word when speaking, managing your finances accurately, or remembering where objects are. It can challenge your ability to maintain concentration during an activity (e.g., reading) or divide your attention when doing two tasks simultaneously. All of these challenges can impact your quality of life.

Parkinson’s specialists Josefa Domingos and John Dean discuss ways to identify and manage these cognitive challenges early on.

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Feeling Low, Nervous or Indifferent to doing basic things in life?

Join Parkinson’s specialists Josefa Domingos and John Dean to discuss how depression, apathy, and anxiety in PD can impact carrying out daily routines, and engaging in social interactions. They’ll also brainstorm about how you can best monitor and address these symptoms.

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Monitoring your PD symptoms – why, what, and how?

Early detection and reporting of problems is a vital part of the effective management of symptoms in PD. But what should one assess that can genuinely be useful to the healthcare teams? What tools can one use in daily life to monitor changes? How do periodic assessments with the team make a difference?

Parkinson’s rehab specialists Josefa Domingos and John Dean share tips about how to monitor the progression of symptoms throughout the disease and report effectively to the healthcare team.

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2022

What is the impact of communication & voice in early PD?

Join Parkinson’s rehab specialists John Dean and Josefa Domingos as they discuss:
• Why does everyone keep telling me to talk louder?
• What is the impact of communication issues on others’ behavior?
• How can you mitigate, delay and manage these communication challenges?
• Are there any useful technologies or other tools that can help manage voice issues in Parkinson’s?

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What can I do to control posture, balance & walking issues in early PD?

Why are problems with walking such a huge issue in Parkinson’s? Why do I have problems when standing or walking while talking or doing another task? What can I do to address these areas, so I don’t need to worry so much walking & balance issues? How should I sift through some of the many fear-inducing information materials about falls in PD?

Join Parkinson’s rehab specialists Josefa Domingos and John Dean for tips about how to identify the best treatment strategies and approaches to address common complaints regarding posture, gait and balance issues in PD.

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Your Diet Strategy

Maintaining a healthier diet can improve day-to-day quality-of-life with Parkinson’s and may mitigate common symptoms such as reflux and constipation as well as avoiding unintended weight loss.  However, you may find that there is an abundance of confusing information about diet and Parkinson’s with many unfounded claims and poor research support.

Parkinson’s rehab specialists Josefa Domingos and John Dean share tips for how to identify the best dietary options for you as well as avoiding key pitfalls such as unhelpful supplements and probiotics, slick marketing approaches by manufacturers as well as other elements such as the benefits of limiting excess sugar and staying hydrated. In addition, there will be information about how to address common complaints such as acid reflux and constipation.

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Family, Friends and Work:
Managing the Dynamics of Relationships

Having a conversation about Parkinson’s with the different people in your life can be difficult at times. Whether you’re trying to explain the disease to your young child or grandchild, discuss it with your spouse, sibling and adult children or advocate for your needs at work, starting the conversation can sometimes be difficult.

Josefa Domingos and John Dean share tips for opening the discussion about different aspects of Parkinson’s with your family and close friends as well as others in your community. They also discuss when and what to disclose to employers and how to ask for accommodations to improve your ability to succeed.

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Your Exercise Strategy

• How do you know if the exercise you are doing is good enough for your Parkinson’s, and if not, what do you need to add or change?
• What is the perfect workout routine for specific problems (e.g. transfers, gait, voice) in PD?
• What if I can’t keep up the exercise routine I do daily, should I work outside the limits or change it?
• What do you do if you don’t like to exercise, or you have lost motivation?
• What if you prefer to do your favorite activity instead of an exercise someone is recommending you do?
 
Josefa Domingos and John Dean discuss how to build an exercise strategy, including identifying the “perfect for you” exercise strategy and how to modify your current exercise programs to maximize the benefit over specific challenges in Parkinson’s.

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Building Your Team

How well do you feel your health professionals understand your condition and complaints? How does finding a doctor and a team who are experts in PD make a difference? Having the right team can go a long way to improving your day-to-day with Parkinson’s, not to mention having a positive influence on long-term progression of the disease.

Hosts Josefa Domingos and John Dean highlight some of the key members of your team to help support you along the way, where to find them and how to ascertain whether they have experience and training in treating Parkinson’s. They also discussed the benefits of interdisciplinary team treatment, key questions to ask your doctor or the team during a consultation and when to consider a second opinion.

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Myths, Misconceptions and Misinformation

Because Parkinson’s is a complex disease that is often misunderstood, the “Recently Diagnosed Boot Camp” session on Tuesday, April 19 featured a discussion of “Misconceptions, Myths and Misinformation” in Parkinson’s. During this program, Josefa and John broke down common misunderstandings about Parkinson’s, highlighted red flags that can often be indicators of misinformation and did a walk-through reliable sources for Parkinson’s info.

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Introduction

March 15, 2022
Please click here to watch an introductory video for this program.