Randolph Based West Morris Area YMCA Holds Open House For Parkinson's Awareness Month

RANDOLPH, NJ - The West Morris YMCA held a Parkinson’s Open House and Symposium on Wednesday, April 9th, in recognition of Parkinson’s Awareness Month.

The four-hour event showcased various programs available at the West Morris YMCA for individuals with Parkinson’s and their care partners, and it connected attendees with local and national organizations dedicated to the cause.

Ann Marie Peterson, the Associate Director of Health and Wellness at the West Morris YMCA, stated, “The Parkinson’s community is very important to us here at the YMCA. We’re really honored to be able to provide both exercise and support groups for the Parkinson’s Community.”

The Open House started with an hour of Rock Steady Boxing - a nonprofit dedicated to improving the quality of life for people with Parkinson’s Disease through a non-contact, boxing-based fitness curriculum.  Rock Steady Boxing classes are held every morning, Monday - Saturday, at the West Morris YMCA.

A 30-minute SMARTfit demo was also held. SMARTfit is a neurofunctional training program designed to prevent/slow the loss of physical and cognitive abilities with the onset of Parkinson’s, MCI, and Dementia.

Key goals of SMARTfit training include: “Building cognitive reserve to delay cognitive decline”; “Making quicker, smarter decisions while moving”; and “Processing what you see faster so you can react faster”.

A Parkinson’s Health Fair was also held at the Open House. Attendees were able to go booth-to-booth, learning more about the sponsors and partners of the event.  Partners and organizations in attendance include:

APDA (American Parkinson's Disease Association): A nationwide network dedicated to providing support, education, research, and community to help fight Parkinson’s Disease.

Medtronic: A medical device company that offers Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) Therapy for individuals with Parkinson’s.

Atlantic Health System | Atlantic Rehabilitation: Outpatient rehabilitation services that aid Parkinson’s patients with occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech-language pathology.

Jewish Family Service of MetroWest New Jersey: A social services provider that offers a monthly caregiver support group at the West Morris Area YMCA for individuals taking care of a loved one with Parkinson’s or a loved one over the age of 60.

Boston Scientific: A biotechnology and bioengineering firm that offers DBS Therapy for individuals with Parkinson’s.

Wen Beauty: A salon that offers permanent makeup services to individuals who struggle with fine motor skills due to Parkinson’s.

Zufall Health: A New Jersey health care service that offers affordable community health centers and health-related assistance.

Abbott Laboratories: A medical device and healthcare solutions company that offers DBS Therapy for individuals with Parkinson’s.

LMR Elder Care: A senior care center in Livingston, NJ that offers advocacy and care coordination for older adults, adults living with disabilities, patients and caregivers.

Parkinson’s Foundation: A national foundation dedicated to improving care, providing support, and advancing research toward a cure for Parkinson’s Disease.

“With the support of APDA and our community partners in attendance here,” said Peterson, “we were able to help connect people with Parkinson’s to resources beyond what the YMCA can provide - resources that may be a benefit to them.”

Mayor Joe Hathaway, Deputy Mayor Mark Forstenhausler, Councilwoman Chris Carey, Councilman Lou Nisivoccia, and Councilwoman Joanne Veech were also all in attendance, as well as a representative from Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill’s office.

Mayor Hathaway announced the recent Proclamation made by Randolph Township recognizing April as Parkinson’s Awareness Month and April 11th as World Parkinson’s Day.

“It’s not just about supporting the individuals who are fighting Parkinson’s every day. It’s about their families. "It’s about their caregivers,” said Mayor Hathaway, “The YMCA is a place for families - they really do an exceptional job of supporting everyone in the family.”

Guest speaker Lisa Bayer, J.D., an Advanced Professional from LMR Elder Care, informed the senior audience about various tips for self-advocacy when speaking with medical providers. Bayer also listed several medical resources available to seniors, such as the Senior Gold Prescription Discount Program and PAAD (Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged & Disabled).

Laurie Fidacaro, M.A. CCC-SLP, a Speech-Language Pathologist from Atlantic Rehabilitation, was also a guest speaker. Fidacaro, also a provider for the nonprofit ‘SPEAK OUT!’, gave a presentation on speech and swallowing changes for people with Parkinson’s and techniques for how to improve them.

In addition to Rock Steady Boxing and SMARTfit, the West Morris YMCA also hosts Fight Back UH20 - a warm-water aquatic boxing class for individuals with Parkinson’s. Fight Back UH20 is held on Thursday mornings.

A free Parkinson’s Support Group is also held at the West Morris YMCA on the third Monday of each month.  Sign-ups for Rock Steady Boxing, SMARTfit, Fight Back UH20, and the Parkinson’s Support Group are all available on the West Morris YMCA website under ‘Parkinson’s Programs’.