SIDE by SIDE with PARKINSON'S

Help for people who live or work with someone with Parkinson’s

The  six week course explains about the professional help, drugs, benefits and the support that is available.

• Information on the drugs that may be prescribed.
• The role of the Parkinson’s Nurse Specialist
• The role of the Information Support Workers and the help they can offer.
• Multidisciplinary therapists, i.e. Speech, Physio and Occupational.
• Sharing – an opportunity to offload and discuss difficulties, frustrations etc.

An Information Support Worker from the Parkinson’s Disease Society will be available to talk in confidence at all sessions

The course is free with refreshments provided. Help and support is available for transport and respite. A course is planned for Autumn 2010 and Spring 2011

A SIDE by SIDE Support Group also meets monthly.

For futher information contact Mrs Cathie Quinn
Cathie@edinburghparkinsons.org

EPAC (Edinburgh Parkinson's Assessment Clinic)

Although the majority of patients are carefully monitored by their GP, some being regularly seen by hospital specialists as well, these services are not always able to provide the support that is often needed in addition to drug therapy. In Parkinson's disease, disabilities develop relatively slowly.To help patients and carers LIVE with the condition over many years, regular assessment is needed, not just by doctors, but by an integrated specialist team of Physiotherapist, Speech Therapist and Occupational Therapist.

The clinic provides the opportunity for members of the team to give patients plenty of time for reassurance and practical advice, time to talk things over and ask all manner of questions in a relaxed atmosphere. Each patient is initially seen by all members of the team together to discuss general issues relating to their condition; following this, time is spent with each member of the team individually. Plenty of time is deliberately allocated in each interview for patients and carers to discuss in detail their questions about the disease progress, its complications and treatment. Full Details

Lifestyle Management Courses

These are group based (usually 10 – 12 people) with 10 weekly three-hour paced discussion, exercise and relaxation sessions run by two trained course Facilitators.

The Courses are about your achieving control over your situation through increasing knowledge about the nature of chronic illness and practising self management strategies. It is about building confidence, boosting self-esteem through experiencing small successes and benefiting from the supportive environment at the Thistle Foundation. Full Details

Rehabilitation at Astley Ainslie for Parkinson’s
RAAP Group

The RAAP group is run by the neurological rehabilitation outpatient team at the Astley Ainslie Hospital. It is a 6-week programme of education for people with Parkinson’s.

Each week there is an exercise session followed by a group discussion about different aspects of Parkinson’s.

The exercise sessions encourage you to find ways of maintaining general fitness and mobility. Advice is given about specific exercises and strategies for some of the physical problems of Parkinson’s. Exercise sessions are led by a Chartered Physiotherapist.

Some of the topics covered in the group discussions are: drugs used in Parkinson’s; sleep problems; pacing and activities of daily living; diet; communication and relaxation techniques. A wide range of healthcare professionals provide input to the group discussions. These include: occupational therapists, nurses, psychologists, dieticians; speech and language therapists.

The RAAP group is held at Astley Ainslie Hospital. We aim to run the group twice a year. Each group is attended by approximately 6-10 people with Parkinson’s.

If you would like further information about the RAAP group, please contact:

Irene Nicol, Outpatient Coordinator
The School, Astley Ainslie Hospital
Telephone: 0131 537 9065
Email: irene.nicol@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk