The Cedars Welcome the Community To A Parkinson’s Afternoon

Staff and residents at Barchester’s The Cedars Care Home in Bourne invited the community to an afternoon of information and support to mark Parkinson’s Awareness Month. Expert speakers included a local gentleman who has lived with the disease for 15 years, and a carer who has experience looking after an individual with Parkinson’s.

The group shared lived experiences and resources, both local and national, in order to support those living with the disease and their carers; and shared information about a local group that meets monthly at the Methodist Church which is open to all newly diagnosed individuals. An attendee said how useful the group was: ‘listening to lived experiences gives a real insight into how the healthcare teams can provide further support to those in our community’.

James Parkinson was a neurologist, geologist, scientist and activist who was born on 11 April 1755, he died on 21 December 1824. Parkinson’s Awareness Week is a global call to action to raise awareness of Parkinson’s disease and promote a greater understanding of the condition and how it can affect a person.

Members of the community spent time learning about how Parkinson’s disease can affect different parts of the brain and the body causing involuntary movements or rigidity in muscles which can then ‘freeze up’ and not work. They also learned about the possible psychological impact of the medication used to treat disease which can cause compulsive behaviours and depression in some people. It can also be linked to a reduced sense of smell, impaired vision and attention deficit disorder; from local experts in our community.

Senior General Manager Rebecca Aldred, said: “Parkinson’s affects a lot of older people and some of our residents are living with the disease so it was important for us to mark the month. We have all learned a great deal about the effects of Parkinson’s and have a greater understanding of how varied and unpredictable the symptoms can be.”

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