National Family Caregivers Month

In recognition of National Family Caregivers Month I thought I would share this link from the NPF and say thank you to all our care partners of PD. 

http://www.parkinson.org/Caregivers/Caregivers---On-The-Blog/November-2010/Appreciating-Family-Caregivers

Here at the Parkinson Center of Oregon we are running an 8 week group specifically set up for carepartners of PD.  That we are offering it during National Family Caregivers Month is purely coincidental, but it got me to wondering what other type of specific programming do other social workers and centers offer to their carepartners of PD.....

jam

New Study Links Urban Pollutants to Parkinson’s Disease

manganese

A new study out of Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis is linking exposure to urban pollutants with higher risk for Parkinson's disease.  Specifically the study looked at urban areas with high levels of copper and manganese and found people living in these areas are at higher risk (in some cases a much higher risk!) for developing PD.

http://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=126466

jam

AGENT ORANGE Fast Track Claims Processing System

Many of you have likely heard of this already, but I thought I would post anyway.  VA has a fast track webpage dedicated soley to Agent Orange and Parkinson's disease claims for service connection. 

https://www.fasttrack.va.gov/AOFastTrack/home.do

jam

Study on Depression and phone follow-up care

Some interesting research out of the university of Michigan regarding depression and efficacy of telephone-based "check-up" calls to patients. 

http://psychcentral.com/news/2010/10/27/phone-reinforcement-improves-depression-care/20201.html

University of Michigan also set up a website called depressiontoolkit.org that appears to be family and patient friendly.

http://depressiontoolkit.org/

jam