Torrington Area Parkinsons Support Group
The Torrington Area Parkinsons Support Group organized to fill a local need for new information on and solutions related to Parkinson's disease. Our meetings are held every fourth Saturday of each month at 10:00 AM at the Sullivan Senior Center located in Torrington. (check our calendar)
Meetings include speakers from health care professions and local support services organizations, as well as separate group sessions for both the caregiver and caretaker.
Our Northwestern Connecticut area parkinsons support group meetings are open to those who have Parkinsons disease, their caregivers, their family and friends, and other interested parties.
For more information contact Sue Pelchat at 860-201-7913 or Ann Quattrocchi at 860-309-6336 or Carol Pathe at 860-482-4610
Dear TAPSG Friends,
This is the second and last harrrassing reminder that candy orders are due to me by Friday at 5PM.
Candy bars are $10 each. Gather payment as people order; don't get stuck paying for someone else.
This sale should be as easy as 1-2-3.
1) Send me an email by 5 PM on Friday, March 10 to let me know how many bars to order for you.
2) Bring payment to, and pick up candy bars at our March 25 meeting.
3) Deliver bars to those who have ordered.
I have attached another copy of the order form to help you keep track of those who would like a sweet treat for April - Parkinson's Awareness Month. Hold onto the form so you know to whom you have to bring the candy after [picking it up on Saturday, the 25th. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
With eight people having already submitted their orders, we are up to 95 bars.
Last reminder will come on Friday. If you have already sent me your numbers, you needn't respond again on Friday, You can relax and smile because your report is in well in advance of the due date! 😇
Thanks for your support. This ends the second candy message.
APRIL IS PARKINSON'S AWARENESS MONTH
We will be selling candy bars for two weeks, beginning Saturday at our meeting. An order form is attached for those who can't attend. Our goal is to raise awareness of Parkinson's disease in our community and to offer people the opportunity to join our group where they can find other people working through the disease.
Fascia, of Watertown, will provide the 3 oz. milk chocolate bars. Each bar will sell for $10. (It's a fundraiser.) The actual cost to us for each bar and labeling is nearly $6.00. Bars will have labels designed by John Waiveris, with our logo, April PD Awareness, contact info and ten early signs of PD. Just by displaying the order form or talking up the candy sale, people will become more aware of the disease. Remember, our goal is awareness of the disease and our support group. Money is not the object, though we never turn down donations. $4.00 of each bar purchased can be used as a tax donation to our 501c3 charity for people who itemize. And yes, it's Lent, but candy will keep a long time, and people can celebrate Easter by unwrapping a bar. They can buy for friends, too!
I hope everyone will support this effort to share information in our area. The sale will begin Saturday and will run for two weeks. You will collect payment when folks order from you, and you will be responsible for paying for as many bars as you tell me you need. Orders will be due by Friday, March 10th. You will simply send me an email of how many bars you have sold. Candy will be delivered at our March meeting, in time to deliver to folks for Parkinson's Awareness Month in April.
This is our first attempt at a sale like this, and we hope we've covered all bases. Please help us get out the word about PD and TAPSG. I have attached an order for, should you wish to get a head start on orders. 😇 Thanks so much.
FRIENDS IN NEED
If you know of anyone who would benefit from a card of comfort or concern, please share that information at a meeting. Betty Dillon has taken on the role of communicator in that respect. Thank you, Betty. We want to be sure to keep our members connected, especially if they're in need of the comfort of friends.
NUTMEG CONSERVATORY DANCE OFFERING
If you're looking for more exercise in your life, you can try the dance program for seniors, offered by the Nutmeg Conservatory in Torrington. I spoke with Donna Mattiello about the program this week. She advised that people who do not have serious balance issues would enjoy the program. It is appropriate for people with PD, but one must assess the challenge for one's own safety, The program can be adapted for seated exercise as well.
To participate, just show up on Tuesday or Friday, 9:30 - 10:15. The program is free, and intake simply involves providing an emergency contact's number. The program currently runs through June and is free of charge, If you have questions, please call the Nutmeg at 860-482-4413. Someone will return your call promptly if you get the answering machine; that was my experience.
UPCOMING SYMPOSIUM
The 2023 CT Parkinson's Symposium hosted by HHC and Beat PD, scheduled for Friday, March 24 is SOLD OUT! This is just a reminder to check your calendar if you've registered and save the date for the event. It should be a very informative day.
FOLLOWUP FROM LAST MEETING
Here are links to the benefits of playing ping-pong and the research being done on the stimulation glove. We spoke of each at our January meeting.
Doctors say that playing ping-pong can be helpful to people with Parkinson's. https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/parkinsons-disease-symptoms-ping-pong/
Stimulation Glove
Why We Walk for Parkinson's Research
The Walk in the Woods for Parkinson's raises funds to support Parkinson's research, to increase awareness of PD, which affects 6.3 million people around the world, and to provide support for local people who struggle daily with Parkinson's disease. 1 in 100 people over the age of 60 will be affected by Parkinson's disease. We hope to educate the public about PD and help those affected by it. Through our first seven walks, we have raised approximately $130,000 to help area citizens with PD and to donate to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research. We hope to increase our contributions for research and expand our support of TAPSG members and families affected by Parkinson's disease.
TAPSG is a 501C3 non-profit organization. If you would like to donate, make checks out to TAPSG and mail to:
TAPSG
185 East Elm Street Box 521
Torrington, CT 06790
Championing Parkinson’s Research!
Thank you for your dedication to Fox Insight. With over 20,000 participants, you are part of the largest Parkinson’s disease (PD) research study in the world! Every time you log in to Fox Insight and fill out surveys, you are providing doctors, researchers, and drug developers with information to better understand Parkinson’s from the true PD experts—patients and their families. Read the first issues of the Click to read the newsletter. We will circulate two issues each year to keep you informed about study findings, updates, and new opportunities for participation.
Did You Know?
- Every 9 minutes an individual is diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease
- 1 in 10 people will have Parkinson's
- There is no “definitive test” that can confirm Parkinson's disease, except after death
- Parkinson's is not just your "grandparent's" disease or for "old" people
- Currently there is "no cure" for Parkinson's
- Medication can substitute for the missing dopamine, but it is only a temporary solution
- There are 60,000 new cases of Parkinson's Disease a year
- The total cost to the nation is estimated to exceed $6 Billion annually
- Without more federal funding for research to find a cure for Parkinson's, the numbers of Parkinson patients will only increase each year
Torrington Connecticut Area Parkinsons Support Group is sponsored by the Sullivan Senior Center, Charlotte Hungerford Hospital and the Connecticut American Parkinsons Disease Association.