Parkinson’s Disease Research, Education and Clinical Centers
For Veterans
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Support Group |
SFVA Support Group for People With Parkinson's Disease and Their Caregivers/Family Members You are invited!Please join us at our San Francisco Parkinson's Disease and Caregiver Support Group. (No need to be a VA patient to attend. All persons with Parkinson's disease and their caregivers are welcome.) 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm please contact us (415) 379-5530 for email with ZOOM link For questions please call 415-379-5530 Support Group Coordinator: Come learn about common medical and social issues in living with Parkinson's Disease. |
Parkinson's Disease Patient Education Seminars |
Future directions: Cell-based Therapy for Parkinson’s Disease Parkinson’s Disease: The Pesticide Link Alternative treatments for PD: Helpful or Harmful? Neuro-protection Therapies for PD: The Good, the Bad and the Expensive! Interventional MRI for Deep Brain Implants Update on Results of National Cooperative PD DBS Study November 2008 Identify common marital stressors in PD, Discuss and manage anxiety and depression in PD, Identify common non-motor disturbances in PD: daytime sleepiness and autotonomic disturbances, Update on common PD thought disturbances visual hallucinations, paranoid delusions, and cognitive changes, Update on gene therapy protocols in PD, Explore the history and current ethics in Parkinson's disease Research, Explore alternative or complimentary therapies in PD (exercise & nutrition), November 2007 Medication Update and common side effects Surgical Options for Parkinson's Disease Depression in Parkinson's Disease Cognitive Changes in Parkinson's Disease Sleep in Parkinson's Disease Managing Falls at Home and Other Home Safety Tips Tips for Taking Care of the Caregiver |
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Deep Brain Stimulation Information |
Frequently Asked Questions about Deep Brain Stimulation Overview of Steps to Take Before Surgery |
My Parkinson's Story |
A series of short videos prepared by the VA PADRECCs addressing various aspects of Parkinson's Disease through the gracious sharing of individual Veteran's stories. Go to My Parkinson's Story on YouTube |
Online Resource Guide |
Parkinson's Disease Online Resource Guide |
San Francisco's Supportive Care Clinic |
SF offers an Advanced Care/Supportive Care Clinic for late Stage III-IV PD. Late-stage PD patients often gain little to no benefit from medication adjustments. In fact, medications are more frequently withdrawn due to their side effects. The work of Gow and Carter from OHSU suggests that families often have feelings of abandonment for care and support in the final stages of care for patient with Parkinson's disease. With this in mind, the SFVA developed a new interdisciplinary clinic for advanced disease patients with the goal of improving the family's sense of support for this end-stage phase of disease. Specifically, quality of life interventions are the focus instead of curative interventions. The goal is to avoid unnecessary hospitalizations and caregiver desperation. The staffing is based on a team approach and the two hour visits start with an intake of key issues solicited by either the nurses, a social worker or chaplain. Patient and family goals are explored and a plan of care is made together incorporating recommendations from all involved parties. |
UCSF DBS Support Group |
UCSF’s Movement Disorder Program cordially extends an invitation to its DBS Support Group Bi-Monthly Meeting. Meetings are every second Thursday on odd numbered months from 6pm-8pm at UCSF Neurology Conference room on the 8th floor of the Amublatory Care Clinic 400 Parnasus Ave San Francisco Please direct questions and RSVP’s to the group facilitator, Lee Schwager, via email (preferred) at "sensitivelee@yahoo.com", or via phone at 415-601-6456 |
Other Support Groups |
The Stanford Parkinson's Community Outreach Program maintains a list of Parkinson's support groups operating throughout the San Francisco Bay area. See the list on their web site at: parkinsons.stanford.edu/support_groups.html |
National Patient Resources |
Click here to see our national patient resources |