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Support Groups
Support groups offer patients and their families help with day-to-day issues, provide a forum for gathering information about PD, and serve as a place to make new friends who share similar problems. Support groups are located in the following areas.
See details about area support groups >> Included in this list are specialty groups for Young On-Set and Caregivers. If you are in an area that does not have a support group, contact us and we will help you get the support you need. Young Onset The Young Onset Support Group in Dunwoody could really be called the "Young at heart and active people support group" because that's who we are. Although most members are retired, many continue to work and have young families. The number of years since diagnosis among the members is wide, from a few weeks to 17 years. The average age of the whole membership is probably 60. We meet regularly on the third Tuesday of the month at the Dunwoody Baptist Church, Bldg. D, 1445 Mt. Vernon Rd., Atlanta GA 30338, from 7-8:30 PM. Our meetings are open to anyone interested in learning more about Parkinson's Disease, offering both information and support. February 19 is set aside for support group work and sharing. March 18, we have invited Jeff Hoder, a physical therapist who teaches at the Movement Disorders Clinic, to demonstrate fall prevention and lead us through an exercise component. Yet to be confirmed. April 15, we hope to feature Annemarie Schwartzkopf, newly elected president of the Georgia chapter of the APDA, to talk to us about the chapter and what it does and can do for us. Yet to be confirmed. Anyone interested in more information about our group or to suggest a speaker or topic is invited to email Eileen Piasecki at EMPatlanta@aol.com or call: 770-837-9545.
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Featured Support Group
Lake Country Shakers
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We are known as the Lake Country Shakers and we
serve 10 counties in NE GA. Our group will be 13 years old next February; we
have 49 members and an average attendance of 33. We meet at the St. Paul United
Methodist Church, 404 Washington St., Gainesville, GA 30501. Our meetings are
held on the first and third Thursdays of each month at 11:00AM; we meet for an
hour and 15 minutes but our people begin coming by 10:00AM and often stay and
visit with one another until 1:00PM or after. We are a traditional support
group where we share concerns, solutions and information. Occasionally we have
a speaker. Dr DeLong has spoken to our group. Following our gathering,
refreshments and announcements we divide into two groups, one for caregivers and
the other for patients. Caregivers, especially, find this support system most
helpful. Ours is a highly cohesive group and very welcoming of newcomers.
Because PD patients tend to isolate, we offer many
social opportunities. We go on day trips as well as more extended travels.
Recently, 11 of us spent four days and three nights in Charleston; to celebrate
Thanksgiving, 32 of us shared a meal at the Carriage House Restaurant in
Jefferson. Our Christmas party will be on December 13th and we expect almost
100% of our members to be present for that gathering.
Leaders of the group are Marie and Bob Bridges,
770-532-8848 and Louell and Ray Roper, 678-546-5455. Please contact us for any
additional information you may need. Many, many thanks. Bob Bridges,