Parkinson’s Victoria invites you to attend a free education seminar for people with Parkinson’s who are considering Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) surgery.
The seminar will look at what is involved in Deep Brain Stimulation surgery as well as providing information on the preparation process and possible outcomes for surgery. Afternoon tea will be provided.
Neupro, often referred to as the ‘Parkinson’s patch’ has been available in Australia as a private prescription since 2006. Just recently however, it has been listed on Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), reducing the prescription cost and thus making it more widely available to those living with Parkinson’s who may benefit from its use.
Neupro patches contain the active ingredient rotigotine, which is a type of medicine called a dopamine agonist. Rotigotine works by mimicking the activity of the brain chemical called dopamine. (Dopamine is depleted in the brains of those diagnosed with Parkinson’s).
Neupro is similar to another dopamine agonist, Pramipexole (brand names include Sifrol and Mirapex), however Neupro is delivered as a patch that is applied to the skin and slowly releases the drug over 24 hours, while the patch is being worn.
The patch would appeal to those who have difficulty swallowing pills or who need to take a large number of pills. The patch also means consistent release of the drug into the system, which can reduce the incidence of ‘wearing off’ and the return of visible Parkinson’s symptoms.
As a dopamine agonist, rotigotine has all the same precautions and side effects as other medications that fall into this class; some people may develop impulse control disorders and skin irritation can occur where the patch is applied.
For more information please contact the Parkinson’s Victoria health team or refer to the Consumer Medicine Information sheet
Important Meeting
Arnold Thomas and Becker, solicitors, have called an information meeting for people living with Parkinson's disease, restless legs or pituitary gland tumours and who were prescribed PERMAX, CABASER and DOSTINEX and suffered changed and abnormal behaviours.
A class action has been commenced in the Federal Court claiming compensation for groups of such persons who have suffered loss or damage as a result of changed and abnormal behaviour being:
Compulsive gambling
Compulsive spending
Compulsive eating
Hyper Sexuality
Punding (meaning a compulsive fascination with and performance of repetitive, mechanical tasks)
With the assistance of the Salvation Army, Arnold Thomas and Becker have arranged for Mr. John Rowe, barrister, to explain the nature of the process, who may have claims, nature of the claims and answer questions.
WHERE: Salvation Army - 7 Bowen St Camberwell
WHEN: Monday 17TH June 2013 at 10:30am
In attending this meeting you will incur no obligation and no cost.
For more information or if you would like to RSVP contact Robyn Murray at Arnold Thomas and Becker:
Are you under the age of 60 and living with Parkinson's?
Parkinson's Victoria is conducting a survey looking at services and support options for people living with Young Onset Parkinson's. We would love to get your feedback on what you would like, and how it should look. This feedback will help us to shape the future of our Young Onset services.
To complete the survey click on the link to the right.
World Parkinson's Day Lecture - Professor Malcolm Horne
Cognitive and psychological issues in Parkinson’s:
The effects of Parkinson’s on movement is well known. The effect on mood, anxiety, cognition and other more serious psychological problems is far more common than often appreciated. It is an aspect of the illness that can seriously affect quality of life and limit independence.
On April 11th (World Parkinson's Day), Professor Malcolm Horne presented on these aspects and how to manage them.
Researchers at Monash University are looking for volunteers to take part in their study High hopes, high risk? A sociological study of stem cell tourism.
The project involves in-depth phone interviews with patients or carers who have travelled overseas for stem-cell treatment, and 20 with people who have considered travelling and decided not to.
Research project investigating measurement of arm and hand function in people with Parkinson’s disease
Many people with Parkinson's disease experience difficulty with hand activities. We are investigating the effectiveness of measurement tools used by physiotherapists and occupational therapists to assess arm and hand function in people with Parkinson’s disease. The results of the study will assist therapists to effectively evaluate upper limb treatments.
Curtin University: Attitudes to seeking psychological help in Parkinson's Disease
Researchers from the School of Psychology and Speech Pathology from Curtin University in Perth are currently exploring attitudes to seeking psychological help among people with Parkinson's.
PhD student Lakkhina Troeung along with Dr Natalie Gasson and Dr Sarah Egan would like to ask for your assistance in completing a 30-minute online survey investigating factors that may or may not influence your decision to seek psychological treatment (should you ever need it).
Any person with Parkinson's may complete the survey. The survey is completely anonymous and no personal identification details will be collected. While completing the survey may have no direct benefit to you, the team at Curtin University hope that you will take a little time to fill in your answers in order to help them learn a bit more about psychological problems in Parkinson's Disease and how to best help people who might have them.
Click here to find out more about these or any other opportunities to participate in Parkinson's research.
New 2013/14 Entertainment Books now available!
The new 2013 | 2014 Entertainment™ Books are coming soon!
The Entertainment™ Book contains hundreds of valuable 'up to 50% off' and '2-for-1' offers from many of the best restaurants, arts, attractions, hotel accommodation, travel and much more!
Order your book today and enjoy bonus vouchers to be used right now!
One of the priorities of Parkinson's Victoria is to raise funds to help increase support services and research. In order to do this, we need to raise awareness, especially amongst those who are most able to help. We were recently very fortunate to partner with DDB Group Melbourne, a creative agency, who were kind enough to lend their expertise and resources.
The result was a direct mail campaign. We handpicked 30 recipients from selected high profile Australian businesses to receive a simple, plain package in the post with a personalised DVD inside.
On the DVD is a personal message from Jennifer, a brave woman living with Parkinson's Disease, getting ready to go out. She strains and struggles against the condition to get up and going. She then writes a name, the direct mail recipient's name, on an envelope and leaves to deliver it.
The simple task of getting ready is draining for Jennifer. Watching you're not sure why she's striving to get out of the house.
It's revealed at the end of the film that Jennifer was making her way to the recipient's front door. And the film is a plea for help - for donations.
Share your comments about this video on the Parkinson's Victoria Facebook page parkinsonsvic
Parkinson’s Victoria gratefully acknowledges the support of the following who have generously donated their time and expertise to create
“A message from Jennifer”
Creative Agency: DDB Group/Rapp Melbourne Production Company: Fiction Post Production: Iloura and Sight & Sound Sound Mix: Risk Sound Music Supervision: Level Two Music Music Track: ‘Indian Summer’ by Jonsi & Alex c/o Universal Music Publishing Group Pty Ltd, Kobalt Music Publishing Australia Pty Ltd, EMI Music Australia.
* The video featured shows the name and address of a fictitious person, Martin Wills, for illustration purposes and to protect the real recipients' privacy.
Signpost
Winter 2013 now available
Signpost
is the Parkinson's Victoria quarterly magazine.
It is available online and a free paper copy
is sent to all Parkinson's Victoria members
(click
here to join Parkinson's Victoria)
The
Autumn 2013 edition features articles on upcoming
education and fundraising events, new initiatives, symptom
management advice, information for carers, as
well as tips for improving health and wellbeing.
The Parkinson's Passport is the latest resource produced by Parkinson's Victoria to assist those living with Parkinson's to get their medications "on time, everytime". The passport is designed so individuals (or carers) can fill out the details of which medications they are on, the dose they require and what time this should be administered. This will be a very useful tool for those going into hospital care as it will give clear instructions to staff about the individual requirements for a person living with Parkinson's.
The passport also contains many useful 'tips' for health professionals assisting them in optimising quality of care to clients and patients. The booklet may also be a useful tool to carry with you when out and about, should you need emergency or other assitance.
Alternatively, to have a free copy sent out please contact the Health Team at Parkinson's Victoria on (03) 9581 8700
Parkinson’s Diary
The Day by Day with Parkinson’s diary is designed to provide people with Parkinson’s and their carers a ‘one-stop shop’ record book where one is able to gain up-to-date information about the disease.
An
Understanding Parkinson's brochure plus 4 information
Help Sheets and a poster can now be downloaded
free in Hindi.
Visit
the language
page of this website to view the Hindi resources
plus information sheets in 10 other community
languages.
Sign
the Global Parkinson's Pledge ... and show your
support for improved Parkinson's funding and support
Raise
the voice of the Parkinson's community by adding
your name to the Global Parkinson's Pledge.
Launched at the recent World Parkinson's Congress
in 2010, the Global Parkinson's Pledge seeks
1 million signatures to give a clear, strong
message to governments, health agencies of the
United Nations system, and patient-oriented
non-governmental organizations (NGOs) throughout
the world to improve resources, education and
investment into Parkinson's. Visit
www.parkinsonspledge.org
to show your support to the Global Parkinson's
Pledge The
Global Parkinson's Pledge was launched at the
2010 World Parkinson Congress (WPC). The next
WPC will be held in 2013 in Montreal and is
the largest international gathering of the Parkinson's
community, bringing together people living with
Parkinson's, their families, health professionals
and researchers to share the latest ideas and
knowledge about Parkinson's. Learn
more by watching this video - WPC
2013 video
Free
Parkinson's manual for GP's
Parkinson's
Disease: A General Practice Approach (2nd Edition),
an excellent education resource for GP's is
available FREE from the local GP Division or
from Parkinson's Victoria by completing this
order form GP
Manual Order form and returning it to Parkinson's
Victoria.
Parkinson's
Victoria has moved office
In
June 2011, Parkinson's Victoria moved to new,
larger premises with better access to public
transport and parking. Our
new street address is: 8b Park Road, Cheltenham,
3192. Our mailing address is: PO BOX 2606, Cheltenham,
VIC, 3192.
Please
note our new phone number is: (03) 9581 8700 and Fax: (03) 9583 9952 (The Australia wide
freecall number remains the same: 1800 644 189)
Curious
about stem cell treatments?
There
is a great new website www.closerlookatstemcells.org
that provides information about the benefits
and risks of stem cell therapies.
