The diagnosis can be surprising and overwhelming, but if you’ve been told you have Parkinson’s disease, the Parkinson’s Roadmap for Education and Support Services (PRESS™) can provide support and tips to guide you through.

“PRESS was created by the American Parkinson Disease Association as a gentle and thorough way to help people come to terms with their diagnosis and learn valuable ways to deal with it,” said Amanda Brill, the social worker organizing the fall series of PRESS at the Chase Family Movement Disorders Center with Hartford HealthCare’s Ayer Neuroscience Institute.

The series runs every Thursday from 12-1:30 p.m. Thursday at the Movement Disorders Center at 35 Talcottville Road, Suite 3 in Vernon and will be offered in Cheshire soon.

Sessions include:

  • What’s Next after Diagnosis?
  • Medication Management with Parkinson’s Disease.
  • The Importance of Exercise with Parkinson’s.
  • Dealing with the Physical Symptoms of Parkinson’s.
  • The Impact of Parkinson’s on Daily Coping and Relationships.
  • Tips for Daily Living.
  • Caring for Others, Caring for Yourself.
  • Building Your Health Care Team.

“While a Parkinson’s diagnosis might make people feel like they’ve lost control, this program expertly shows them how to take charge of their health and the disease,” Brill said.

PRESS is free and open to any adult who has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease within the last five years, their care partners and adult family members. Registration is required. To register for future sessions or for more information, contact Brill at 860.870.6385 or Amanda.brill@hhchealth.org.  PRESS will be offered every spring and fall.