Bernard,
I'd be interested in knowing if there's a directory of such facilities around the country. Is this a unique experiment, or is it being done elsewhere? Anybody know?
Pat Schark
--
On Fri, 11 Sep 1998 15:39:29 Bernard Barber,Ph.D. wrote:
>Many of the members of this list may know, from my previous postings, that
>I have been very involved with Parkinson's Disease, starting about 3 years
>ago, when one of my patients, at an Assisted Living residence, had
>Parkinson's. Forty plus years ago, during my academic training, we had some
>discussion about Parkinson's. My own past professional background consisted
>mostly of Psychoanalytical Psychotherapy, Criminology, Police Psychology,
>and College Teaching. There was little exposure to movement disorders
>specifically, but some generalizations of MS and the Dementias. I did have
>a good grounding in mind, body, and environmental forces working in
>interaction with personality development. This was the perspective I took
>to the understanding of Parkinson's.
>
>At the aforementioned Assisted Living residence, I discovered four other
>People with Parkinson's, but little, if any help from the surrounding
>community. We started our own support group, with assistance from the
>University of Arizona, Department of Neurology, an APDA - funded program.
>In addition to the University we were connected to a young, socially active
>PWP. We also became acutely aware there was little information or
>specialized programs dealing with assisted living facilities for PWP in the
>US. This, in spite of the growing number of folks in the senior age
>population. When the facility Administrator had the chance to pursue a
>career with a more proactive healthcare corporation, we had the opportunity
>to design a PD program within a brand new residence, including some
>implementation of physical design and physical space requirements. We now
>had additional assistance from the newly established Muhammed Ali Parkinson
>Research Center, in Phoenix, a NPF affiliate.
>
>Construction of the SunBridge Assisted Living Residence was completed in
>May 1998; people have been steadily moving in. Staff training and
>development is on-going and assisted by the aforementioned organizations.
>The residents' Library has a collection of books and articles on
>Parkinson's Disease, an exercise facility, and a fully operational personal
>computer with e-mail and internet links to PD web sites. The Wellness
>Director, a Registered Nurse, and the Activities Director, work
>cooperatively on the Parkinson program, and are dedicated to a professional
>level of individualized care for all residents
>
>In addition to regular resident status, SunBridge also offers Respite Care
>as part of its "Short Stay Program". Residents may enjoy all the amenities
>from a seven-day minimum stay to a three-month maximum stay without the
>usual security deposit. A fully furnished studio apartment allows for folks
>to "test-drive" the community.
>
>For more information about the program, please direct correspondence to
>Joan F. Thielbar, Executive Director, SunBridge Assisted Living Residence;
>13810 W. Sandbridge Drive; Sun City West, Arizona 85375-4489; or telephone
>(602) 584-2338; or fax (602) 584-2126; or Email [log in to unmask]; or access
>their corporate website at http://www.sunh.com.
>
>For me, this has been a wonderful adventure in learning and interacting
>with many people within the Parkinson Community, including the membership
>of this list. Their interest and feedback contributed to this program; it
>is our hope that this be a model for others in meeting the needs of PWP.
>
Free web-based email, Forever, From anywhere!
http://www.mailexcite.com
