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^^^^^^GREETINGS FROM^^^^^^^^^^ Ivan Suzman 47/10 [log in to unmask] Portland, Maine land of lighthouses 28 deg. F *********************************************************** Hi Bev and Barbara, I have been asked just recently to help teach long-term care of at-home Parkinson's at the University of New England/Westbrook College School of Nursing. I would start this spring. Your thoughts are very helpful in thinking about how to handle this wonderful opportunity. Thanks for all you both do. Ivan On Tue, 18 Nov 1997 12:47:22 -0500 MRS BEV K STEWARD <[log in to unmask]> writes: >Dear Barbara, > >You are to be commended for your thoroughness. Your glossary will be >very helpful to the students. When I have lectured to the Nursing >students at our local Junior College I usually try to zero in on >things I think the staff will not have covered. Since I am not a >nurse but a person with PD I tell them some of the ideosyncracies >that are rarely mentioned in textbooks, such as not being able to do >something you have done before at any given moment, how to help >someone who freezes, the mask of PD covering the emotions and the >need to try to see beyond it, the need for help with fine finger >coordination efforts such as opening containers in a hospital >situation. The need for medication at absolute times for long term >patients in hospital. The dangers of multiple medications and their >interactions. The problems with chewing and swallowing and the need >for attention by physical therapists in hospital to the patient's >medication regimen for best results. These are just a few of the >points. Our support group has a RN/PD patient team who go to health >institutions (hospitals, nursing homes, retirement full-care units, >rehab centers, etc.) and do in-service training. They are in much >demand. Some of the places have video taped our program so that we >do not have to keep returning to educate the turnover staff. Our >city's Visiting Nurses' organization supplies the RN as a volunteer >and a knowledgeable person with PD fields questions that are more >personal. It makes for an enlightning program. > >We also have prevailed on our local Toastmasters and Toastmmistress' >Clubs to provide a speaker for our Speakers' Bureau whom we train >carefully about PD. They then go to the local service clubs (Lions, >Elks etc) and present a program introducing PD.. We send a >knowledgeable person with PD along to field the questions. The >response has been excellent. We believe in educating the public! > >Too bad you and the Neurologist weren't informed more carefully of >your roles ahead of time. Better luck next time. Thanks for all you >do for this list service. It is much appreciated. God bless. > >Bev in CA >