Parkinson's Support Group

Saint Clair Street Senior Center Murfreesboro TN

PARKINSON'S SUPPORT GROUP MEETINGS

Our Monthly Support Group Meetings.

Read about the 2021 Meetings and Events shown below.

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3 December Holiday Party

The food and activities were great. The pictures shown below are the winner of the "Ugly Sweater" contest and the winner of the "Holiday Story" contest. We also had the "get to know you" segment with Mark Owen and Laura Grissum from the Senior Center staff. After the segment we presented them with a signed Christmas Card thanking them for being such a great host for our monthly meetings.

Jon MacBeth won-"Ugly Sweater" Joe Kinney won second place out of 18 sweaters.

David Ellis won Best Holiday Story Charles Mickles won second place.

The food was great with lots of variety and it was fun to take home a gift from the ornament exchange.

David first place Holiday Story

Food and Goodies

Jon 1st Place "Ugly Sweater" contest

Table Talk Socializing

Holiday Card to Mark and Laura

Decorating Crew

13 November Parkinson's Foundation Moving Day
The Parkinson's Foundation Annual fund raiser was a little cool but lots of people came out to support the cause. We had a nice turnout. The Murfreesboro Support Group was well represented. Our first year team ranked second in fund raising, thanks to our generous members, family and friends. Out of 30 teams only one long established team out performed us.
You can click on the link below to see our results. The name of our team is : Rock Steady Boxing M'boro Support Group ( Donation/information link)

12 November 10am Share Groups Begin

The Care Partners Share Group met in room 301 at the Senior Center the (PWP) Persons With Parkinson's Share Group met in 304 at the Senior Center. Both Share Groups had a lot of confidential exchange and sharing. This was the first Share Group session. The Share Groups will now meet each month on the Second Friday at 10am. All members of our Support Group are welcome to attend.

5 November Charles Mickles Author of "Mine's Parkinson's, What's Yours?"

Charles made a very moving and inspirational presentation about his health journey and Parkinson's.

15 October Event- 60's Cruise

We had a fun time participating in an old fashioned 1960's car cruise with some modern elements thrown in just to make things interesting. We met at the Sonic Drive-In and everyone ordered their favorite dessert or treat. We then did something you could not do in 1965 we all joined into a conference call so we could all talk together. Everyone wanted to know what tasty treat each person was enjoying ( probably against their Doctors advise). Then after about 30 minutes we all cranked-up and filed out of the parking one -by-one all in a line of cars. Then we drove down to the high school and parked and all got out to socialize. Just for old-time sake we popped the hood on one of the cars, we always did this in the old days- just to look at that 4 barrel carberator. But this time it was a little different. We looked under the hood but there was no carberator, there wasn't even an engine, it was a Tesla. How things have changed. "

1 OCTOBER Matt Parks Williams Medical

Matt from Williams Medical Medical showed us mobility and accessibility devices that help both in the home and outside the home. Very informative presentation.

10 September Meeting

Guest Speaker Patrick Kelly

We took 10 minutes to chat at our tables before we welcomed our guests and started our meeting. Kelly Arney Outreach Coordinator for the Parkinson Foundation Center of Excellence at Vanderbilt was visiting with us as a form of encouragement. Our speaker Patrick Kelly told his inspirational story of his journey with several medical complications including multiple myeloma a rare bone cancer and a major spine disorder in addition to his Parkinson’s. Edie McFarlin led us in several exercises to include breathing exercises. Jon MacBeth donated name tag holders and spoke briefly to explain the color code and use. Ron spoke about the “Aware in Care” kit and reminded everyone to continue to bring them to the meetings. We started a new segment to the meeting called “Getting to know You.” We will select two people each meeting to get to know. In our Group Sessions we discussed: “Parkinson’s things you are dealing with right now” and recommendations from the group. Ron reminded us about future events and of our speaker next month at our 1 October meeting, Matt Parks from Williams Medical who will be bringing mobility devices and devices for the home to make life easier for the person with PD. We had some goody treats provided by Carol Ellis, Martha Sudduth, Kumiko Kinney and Sharon Ream. (31)

6 August Meeting

Steven Afrow

Our Guest Speaker was Steven D. Afrow APRN Neurology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Steven works daily with Parkinson’s patients and is an advocate for patients. Steven spoke about medication management and about what to expect as a person dealing with PD. He spoke about adopting an ever adapting mindset and making changes as necessary to attain the best possible quality of life. This includes diet, exercise, sleep and reducing stress factors. He concluded with a Question and Answer session. Sharon Ream led us in exercises of stretching. Ron recognized those who have volunteered for positions in the Support Group so far. We broke down into small discussion groups dividing into groups of 4 or 5 at each table. We had those with Parkinson's together at tables and Care partners also gathered at tables together. We introduced ourselves, told the year of diagnosis and current issues. Ron closed the meeting with announcements and upcoming events. (30)

July 2021 Meeting

Guest Speaker Amanda Spiehler

Ron Ream opened the meeting recognizing Rick Nelson long time member and Chair Person for the Parkinson's support Group at the Senior Center who has now retired from that position. Laura Grissome from the Senior Center staff helped and said a few words of recognition while presenting a framed Certificate of Appreciation signed by members of the Group. We appreciate Rick and the four years of service that he and his wife Glynda provided.

The Guest Speakers was Amanda Spielher South East Director of the Parkinson's Foundation. Amanda spoke about the great resource available though the Parkinson's Foundation and provided an impressive variety of brochures and pamphlets. Amanda also spoke about the "Aware in Care" kit and spoke about the ongoing education initiative the Parkinson's Foundation is doing with the medical community. She also spoke about the ATTP Allied Team Training for Parkinson's and the PD gene research program. After our speaker Sharon Ream led us in some seated exercises to get our blood pumping. After our exercise Ron discussed some volunteer positions and provided the speaker schedule for the rest of the year. He also spoke about some short term goals. We broke down into our small groups of 5-6 and discussed Amanda's presentation and shared Parkinson's related information with each other and just socialized. Ron closed the meeting after announcing upcoming events. (20)

June 2021 Meeting

Guest Speaker Jenna Davis
Rock Steady Boxing

Ron opened the meeting with some announcements and recognized the members who have already volunteered.

Guest Speaker Jenna Davis From "Rock Steady Boxing" discussed the history of RSB and how this exercise program is designed specifically for Persons with Parkinson's' . We then did some fun exercises.

Ron spoke a little about the need for volunteers and establishing certain organizational group routines and establishing a schedule. We also broke into small groups of 5-6 and discussed topics for upcoming meetings and volunteer opportunities. We concluded with some announcemencts of upcoming events. (20)

May 2021 Meeting

Guest Speaker Ron and Sharon Ream

Ron and Sharon Ream talked about re-starting the Murfreesboro Parkinson's Support Group after the Covid year not being able to meet. We had a "get-to-know" each other session and concluded with some announcements of upcoming events.

Meetings prior to May 2021

Meeting were conducted for over a decade before covid

In March 2020 the Saint Clair Street Senior Center had to close due to the Covid Pandemic. All of the Parkinson's Support Group members were invited to join the Franklin Support Group zoom meeting each month. Many were not able to join the zoom.

Meetings resumed in person at the Senior Center in May 2021. (13)