Message From the Executive Director (February 2025)

I sat down today intent on writing a nice intro message about love – a nod to Valentine’s Day and to our driving mission, which is rooted in love. However, as I wrote and scratched out and wrote again, a different theme entirely keeps rising to the surface.

Here in Southern California, we’ve been hit with disastrous wildfires exacerbated by scouring Santa Ana winds. At least one member of our PRO community lost all his possessions when the residential care facility where he lived burned down. Yet when I spoke to him – and offered to share a GoFundMe of some sort to help him recover – he insisted he was fine. “I have already gotten rid of so much, I didn’t have too many things,” he said. “There are others who lost so much more.” Perhaps an argument for downsizing? Or perhaps a perfect crystallization of disaster – in the crucial moments, we take what we absolutely need and we discover that what we absolutely need is actually very little.

There’s an argument that Parkinson’s itself is a slow-moving disaster – it is certainly a natural force that wreaks havoc on our daily life. In the face of it – what do you need? The list is long (medication, assistive devices, weighted utensils, exercise and physical therapy, doctors and caregivers) yet it’s also, at its core, fundamental. Community. Resources. Support.

Our constituent who lost his home found refuge with community (his sister), accessed a flurry of grassroots resources to replace his medication and key items, and was supported by a network of senior care facilities who worked together to place displaced residents in available units within a week. So perhaps, after all, I am writing about love this month – the exuberance of community connection that, in times of disaster, finds miraculous shortcuts through miles of red tape to simply help.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the major event coming up this month – which does convene community, resources, and support. Our Parkinson’s Today symposium in collaboration with The Michael J. Fox Foundation on February 8th is a free half-day symposium bringing together experts on Parkinson’s treatment, research, policy, and caregiving. And by the time this newsletter hits your mailbox, it’s likely the event will be entirely sold out. That’s why we’re recording every panel for release after the event – visit parkinsonsresource.org/symposium to sign up for more information. We’ve also made a few adjustments to our support group schedule and we WILL be celebrating love with a special Social Club event right before Valentine’s Day.

I know I touched on some heavy subjects so I’ll sign off with something bright – whether you noticed or not, we just emerged from the darkest ten weeks of the year. As we enter our shortest month, you’ll start to notice the days get longer. Take in the light – spring is right around the corner. In the meantime, read on for 

PRO SOCIAL CLUB!

 DID YOU KNOW? PARKINSON’S NAUSEA 

TOGETHER IN PARKINSON’S PODCAST 

EXCITING SUPPORT GROUP UPDATES

WHAT IS OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY 

DANCING THE BLUES AWAY

WHAT DOCTORS WISH PATIENTS KNEW ABOUT PARKINSON’S DISEASE 

MEET THE PRO TEAM 

ALWAYS remember to CELEBRATE YOU and LEAD WITH LOVE.

Warmly,

Eileen Lynch

Executive Director