Throughout our lives, most of us have been involved in some form of an informal support group. This may have been a football team in high school or college, a Girl Scout Troop as a school girl, the choir at your church, or even a study group. All of these groups involved people with a common interest working together to support each other in reaching a common goal.
Parkinson’s support groups are very similar. Attendees have a common interest (Parkinson’s disease) and a common goal (living better.)
Yes, groups vary greatly in their format. Some are educational in content and always have a speaker. Others routinely are just “care and share” – members sharing about their experiences and sharing tips and tricks. Caregivers and people with Parkinson’s split in to two separate groups at some meetings.
Visit a couple of different support groups and decide which one is best for you. Some people regularly attend more than one group a month because of the different formats.
If you need help finding a support group in San Diego, be sure to visit www.parkinsonsassociation.org or give us a call at (877) 737-7576.